2020.03.10

Press Conference for the SUPER GT Round 5 Race in Malaysia held in Putrajaya, Malaysia

　On the afternoon of March 9, a press conference was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia to announce the holding of Round 5 of the 2020 AUTOBACS SUPER GT in Malaysia on July 17 and 18 as the first-ever night race in SUPER GT history.

 

 

Many members of the local Malaysian press and media turned out for the press conference

 

 

　For the first time in seven years, a Malaysia round will return to the 2020 SUPER GT series as a major event of the government’s “Visit Malaysia 2020” tourism program that will be named the “SUPER GT Malaysia Festival.” In attendance at the conference were Secretary General Dato' Dr. Noor Zari Bin Hamat of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia and Director General Datuk Musa Bin Yusof of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, showing just how important this event is for Malaysian tourism and culture.

 

 

Mr. Hasan speaking on behalf of HARO SPORTS&ENTERTAINMENT

 

 

　Serving as the managing partner of the Malaysia Round’s organizer, the HARO SPORTS&ENTERTAINMENT company, Mr. Fahrizal Hasan commented, “We are happy to be able to launch this event after a series of negotiations that began in 2018. And we are pleased to announce that rounds of SUPER GT, the very attractive motorsport event with the most fans and largest spectator draw, will be held here in Malaysia from 2020 to 2022.”
Mr. Hasan went on to say that this round will be titled the “SUPER GT Festival” and that the spectator race ticket will also give visitors free admission to an accompanying live concert event. Furthermore, there will be a quiz for predicting the top finishing order for the GT500 and GT300 class races. And the winner will receive the grand prize of a Toyota GR Supra courtesy of the race sponsor, Malaysia’s UMW Toyota. With a schedule of attractive events like this the organizers hope to draw a total attendance of 80,000 visitors on the four nights from July 16 to 19.

 

 

The GR Supra that is the grand prize of the race order prediction quiz will be on display

 

 

A bus wrapping will promote the race until the event starts. Plans also call for it to join the event’s Circuit Safari.

 

 

　Making a wildcard spot entry in this SUPER GT Round 5 as the Malaysian heroes will be a Porsche team scheduled to compete in the GT300 class. The drivers will be the promising Malaysian driver in his 20s, Jazman Jaafer, and the experienced GT race driver Adrian Henry D'Silva.

 

 

The Porsche 911 GT3 R that will compete as a wildcard entry in the Malaysia Round

 

 

Secretary General Dato' Dr. Noor Zari Bin Hamat of the Ministry of Tourism,
Arts and Culture Malaysia addresses the conference

 

 

　Secretary General Dato' Dr. Noor Zari Bin Hamat of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia commented: “We at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia are very grateful to see the return of the SUPER GT round to the Sepang International Circuit. The return of this race that was held here 20 years ago in 2000 as the first SUPER GT round outside of Japan, had great significance for Malaysia’s motorsport fans.” He then went on to say that the target is to gather 80,000 fans, of which 15,000 will be from overseas, for whom special tickets will be offered in cooperation with Malaysia Airlines. At the end of his address, he thanked GTA’s Chairman Bando in Japanese for bringing the round back to Malaysia and how much he was looking forward to it.

 

 

GTA’s Chairman Bando addressing the conference

 

 

　When it was GTA’s Chairman Masaaki Bando turn to go on stage to address the press, he said, “We at GTA are now working diligently with our partner, HARO SPORTS&ENTERTAINMENT in preparation for the holding of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT series Round 5 at Sepang International Circuit on July 17 and 18. HARO SPORTS&ENTERTAINMENT is working ambitiously on promotions and sponsorship affiliations for the this event and I have the greatest confidence in their efforts. I am also grateful to see all the efforts being made in the public and private sectors for the success of the event, such as the official recognition as part of the government’s Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board’s “Visit Malaysia” campaign and the cooperation of Malaysia Airlines. These efforts have made it possible for Japan’s SUPER GT fans to come to Sepang in greater comfort and at affordable prices.”

 

 

 

 

A SUPER GT race was first held as a special round in 2000, and it continued until the 13th holding in 2013. This is the first time in seven years returns to Sepang, where it will make use of the circuit’s lighting facilities to have the race run as a night event. It will be a historic first night race in SUPER GT. And to make sure that fans around the world can also enjoy the spectacle on TV and on the Internet, video recordings of the action will be sent to broadcasters worldwide. Together with HARO SPORTS&ENTERTAINMENT, we will be working hard to make sure the venue will be prepared to welcome all of the fans who are looking forward to this race with great expectations.

 

 

 Mr. Hasan also commented about the spread of the new coronavirus that is now the focus of so much attention around the world, announcing a gift of approx. 2,000 surgical masks through GTA to people in Japan where there is now a severe shortage.

 

 

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