Unless you are one of those lucky folk whose hometown hosts a GP race, getting to see one live involves a fair bit of planning, and more than a bit of cash. Now that the (provisional) F1 calendar for 2009 has been announced, it is a good time to start planning next year’s holiday, and maybe catch a race while you are away. This time we take a look at the Malaysian round of the Championship, and provide some handy hints for those wishing to travel to this event.

Things to know before you go:

• The official language is Malay, but you will find the English and Chinese languages catered for
• Most nationalities do not require a visa for stays of one month or less. However, please see http://www.imi.gov.my/eng/perkhidmatan/im_Visa.asp for individual requirements.
• The event is currently hosted at the Sepang International Circuit, which is approximately 50 kms from the centre of the capital Kuala Lumpur (KL), and approximately 5 kms from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
• The weather will be warm at this time of year, but can be extremely humid. Remember to drink plenty of water
• The 2009 event will be the second F1 race to be held at night, after the inaugural Singapore GP Night race to be held later this year
• Malaysia is a Muslim country, so please be aware of local customs particularly if your visit coincides with the month of Ramadan.
• For more tourist information see the official tourism website http://www.tourism.gov.my/

Buying a ticket:

The official website of the Malaysian Grand Prix is http://malaysiangp.com.my/ which gives information on buying a ticket, the track, as well as general tourist information.

There are also many other websites out there that sell tickets to all events, but shop around as the prices vary widely. The Sepang circuit has many grandstand options to choose from, and is quite reasonably priced. Most ticketing is for the grandstands, and they are covered, which is handy if it rains – but there is limited general admission on the Hillstands which are manmade hills. They are not covered, so be prepared to be out in the weather. They are also variable in price – depending on the view you will get, and you must select which area you wish to be in when purchasing a ticket, as opposed to just turning up on the day and selecting a good spot. All of the grandstands have a TV screen, and only some of the hillstands do, so choose accordingly.

Getting to Kuala Lumpur:

Kuala Lumpur is served by a large international airport, with direct flights from many cities with Malaysian Airlines. It is also very easy to fly in via other South East Asian destinations such as Singapore or Thailand, and take a connecting flight to KL. It is also possible to take a train from Singapore or Thailand. See http://www.ktmb.com.my/ for more information on train travel. The really adventurous among us might be tempted to take a ferry to Malaysia from surrounding countries.

Where to stay:

You may choose to stay in KL itself, and simply take the train out to the track. However, if you wish to be a little closer to the action, there are a number of hotels in and around Sepang, and a number at the Airport which may be suitable. The Pan Pacific Hotel is near the airport, and is popular with the drivers. You never know who you might bump into at the breakfast buffet! If you have hired a car, another option is the nearby inland town of Putrajaya, which is only a forty minute drive from the circuit. It boasts a number of resorts. The coast is also only about a forty minute drive from Sepang so, if a beachside resort is more your style, this is a viable alternative to staying in the city.

Getting to the track:

There is no direct train line to the track from KL, but there is a combined train & bus shuttle ticket that can be purchased in addition to your GP ticket. You take a train from KL Sentral to KLIA, and then transfer to the shuttle bus. See http://malaysiangp.com.my/story/-public-transportation for more information on how to obtain the ticket and prices. Driving to the track via the North-South Highway is also an option, and there is plenty of car parking available. Allow at least one hour for the trip, longer if you are travelling in peak times.

At the track:

This is a three day event, with the festivities kicking off on the Friday. There are a few support categories such as Formula BMW Asia and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia to entertain you when the F1 cars are not on track. There is also a large F1 Village located between the Northern and Southern Mall areas selling food and drink, team merchandise etc as well as displays from tyre companies and manufacturers. Grab yourself a program to see what else is happening trackside.

What to bring:

You cannot bring your own food and drink into the track. These must be purchased at the premises. Obviously these will be priced accordingly.

Although all of the grandstands are covered, you must also bring sunscreen and a hat. The details are yet to be released, but although the actual F1 race will be at night, one would assume the support races will be during the afternoon. The weather will be warm and undoubtedly very humid so it is imperative that you keep your fluids up. The last thing you want is to suffer from dehydration during the day and then miss the F1 action! An umbrella is also advisable, as this area can be subject to monsoonal rains.

An FM radio to listen to the broadcast is also important. There is English commentary available on the Radio Sepang network. Kangaroo TV sets are also available for hire at the track. A good camera is also a must as you don’t want to miss taking shots of the F1 cars out on the track.

And finally, enjoy!