Officials at Sepang have confirmed that the current contract has been extended until 2018, having signed new three-year deal.

The circuit, which hosted Malaysia's first Formula One World Championship race in 1999, the event most famous for the return of Michael Schumacher following his Silverstone accident, was the first F1 track to be designed by Hermann Tilke.

Though it is not widely regarded as his best work, in recent years there has been growing affection for the Malaysia track, even if the weather conditions often make spectating (and racing) difficult.

"The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) today announced that the contract to host the Formula One Malaysia Grand Prix has been extended for another three years until 2018," read the official statement concerning the contract extension.

"Malaysian Prime Minister, Y.A.B. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak, revealed the news of the extension after the conclusion of the seventeenth edition of the 2015 F1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit.

"The contract for the extension was signed following the successful negotiations between SIC and Formula One Management. The Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix has been a major annual sporting event in the country since it was first hosted here in 1999."

With F1 gradually being eradicated from Europe, even certain races in the east are thought to be under threat as new economies seek to become part of the F1 dream however, this new three year-deal ensure Malaysia keeps its place for a few more years.

That and the fact that it hosted a race yesterday which breathed new life into a flagging sport.

Check out our race gallery, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by RPrior, 07/04/2015 8:08

"@RDFox has submitted one of the most intelligent remarks regarding F1.

The relationship between track surfaces and tyre compounds.

When a driver sees fit to modify the tyre compound by performing a few 'hot laps' in practice to vulcanise the race tyre so as to gain an increase in tyre life - then something is seriously wrong with the tyre construction in the first place.
"

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2. Posted by RDFox, 30/03/2015 17:30

"Another bit of silly Yank observation... very often, NASCAR fans seem to be most enamored with the tracks that have the oldest surfaces, as are (some of) the drivers--and there's a good reason for this.

As a race track's surface ages, be it asphalt, concrete, or any other hard-surface option, it tends to simultaneously become more abrasive and have a lower coefficient of friction (i.e., less tire adhesion). This has two effects: the higher abrasiveness causes tires to wear more quickly and thus give up grip more quickly, and the lower coefficient of friction means that there's less total grip to be had even on brand-new tires. This results in the cars soon becoming rather difficult to drive because they are now down on grip, and thus are starting to slip and slide a bit in the turns--which means that mistakes are magnified, and many more passing opportunities are opened up as cars slip wide in the turns. (With the sheer mass and limited downforce of NASCAR cars, combined with the long races--typically 400km or longer--it's often actually quicker for the drivers to remain on the track under green-flag conditions even when their tires have given up almost all their grip; some teams actually plan on this and, during practice, will "scuff" tires by putting new sets on the car, going out and running three to four laps, and then coming in to change tires--by putting a full heat cycle through the tires, they briefly revulcanize them and make them harder, so they'll wear more slowly than new "sticker" tires.)

Perhaps we're starting to see something similar in F1? As Tilke's tracks age, maybe their surfaces are becoming more abrasive and thus harder to drive on, making the circuits more conducive to overtaking? Something to consider, anyway."

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3. Posted by Hondawho?, 30/03/2015 15:15

"I like the circuit and it seems the facilitates for the teams is very good as well. The overtaking places are available and it offers the spectators a really good view of the racing, we need one similar in Europe rather than old airfields!"

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Sepang extends contract

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