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The Sepang circuit has been constructed a few minutes drive from the new KLIA, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, about 50 kilometers from KL itself. It was three years ago - after the 1999 Australian GP that the circuit was officially opened and this year's race will be fourth since that time.
It was noticeable, then, how proud Malaysia's prime minister was of the circuit that was really his baby. But he also made a point of demonstrating Malaysian-built cars. There were many Proton displays, but perhaps more surprising was that Dr Mahathir, the prime minister, and his wife arrived in separate TVRs. They are made under licence in Malaysia, and are regarded as Malaysian cars!
A lap of Sepang with Benetton star Jenson Button
"At the end of the pit straight I will reach around 185 mph (300 kph) in 6th gear before braking hard for the first turn taken in second gear at around 45 mph (75 kph).
Very shortly after this is another slightly slower second gear left-hand corner taken at under 43 mph (70 kph). From here, I accelerate through the next right-hand corner which is taken flat up to around 175 mph (285 kph) in top gear.
From here I have to brake down to second gear and 65 mph (105 kph) for the next right-hand corner. The long left-hand corner following this is taken in fourth gear. The first part at around 155 mph (250 kph) and then slightly losing speed down to 142 mph (230 kph) with the car being stabilised with just a little bit of left foot braking.
This corner is immediately followed by a right hand curve, again taken in 4th gear at a very similar speed, before accelerating on the short straight up to 5th gear to 170 mph (275 kph), then braking again to third gear and 105 mph (170 kph) for the next right-hand corner. Another similar short straight where I will get into 5th gear and about 173 mph (280 kph) leads to the very tight left hand 1st gear corner taken at just over 43 mph (70 kph).
A long fourth gear 142 mph (230 kph) corner then leads into the difficult 3rd gear 85 mph (140 kph) corner which has a very difficult entry. The next left-hand curve is taken extremely fast in 5th gear at 155 mph (250 kph) before braking for the penultimate corner which is taken in 2nd gear at around 70 mph (115 kph).
On the back straight I will reach very similar speed to the pit straight before braking hard for the final corner, which is taken in 2nd gear at just over 50 mph (80kph). This leads back on to the pit straight where I will cross the finish line at around 165 mph (265 kph)."
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