V8 Supercars to return to Asia with Malaysian race deal

Australian motor racing series V8 Supercars is set to return to the Asian market after signing a four-year heads of agreement to stage a championship round on the streets of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

Under the deal, V8 Supercars will be a headline act at the Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix.

The agreement will commence with a five-car exhibition event at the inaugural KL City Grand Prix Circuit on 7th to 9th August - a display intended to be a test event with local organisers to formalise the race deal, running from 2016 to 2019, with V8 Supercars following its completion.

V8 Supercars will participate alongside global GT categories at the 2015 KL City Grand Prix.

Commenting on the series return to Asia, V8 Supercars Chief Executive James Warburton stated "this four-year contract is right for the KL City Grand Prix, right for our great V8 Supercars Championship and right for our race teams and right for our sponsors.

“Having four championship races in Kuala Lumpur until 2019, in close reach of Australia and in a similar time zone for our fans are key ingredients. We would envisage that many fans would make their way to Kuala Lumpur to watch us race live on what will be one of the world’s most spectacular street tracks.”

GT Global Race SDN BHD is the owner and promoter of the KL City Grand Prix, with V8 Supercars signed as its first international motor racing series partner. GT Global Race has aspirations to promote a series of high profile street races across the Asia Pacific region, with Kuala Lumpur the first venue developed by the team.

KL City Grand Prix Chief Executive M Arrasu added "this renowned race series already has a well-established following among motor racing enthusiasts not only in the ASEAN region, but also around the world.

"The introduction of the V8 Supercars will further charge up the already exciting program of this inaugural KL City Grand Prix this August.”

V8 Supercars held a championship round in Shanghai, China in 2005 and at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit from 2010 to 2012. The series’ last event outside Australia and New Zealand came in the form of a race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in 2013.

Images shows the V8 Supercars at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit.

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