The open-wheeled vehicles that will be racing on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: The streets here are about to get hotter in August when the Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix makes it debut in the heart of the city.
Yes, we are finally getting our own street race here in Kuala Lumpur, thanks to GT Global Race (M) Sdn Bhd, which has a five-year agreement with Kuala Lumpur City Hall to organise it.
“The intention to make it into an annual event is there and hopefully we will still be doing it 50 years from now. The Macau Grand Prix has been running for more than 60 years now,” said project director and lead technical consultant Simon Gardini.
He first pounded the streets of KL in 2013 after being contacted about the possibility of a street race and saw real possibility in it which brings us to the present day.
Gardini
“Street circuits are romantic yet gritty. It is also very much a compromise between the International Automobile Federation (FIA) guidelines and what is achievable,” he said.
The KL City GP street circuit aims for a Category 3 licence from the FIA and to date, will feature the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Formula Masters and Scirocco celebrity Challenge races.
When it comes to designing a street race track, one looks at roads in a completely different way compared to ordinary drivers.
“Racers use the whole width of the road and my job is to carefully evaluate how the entire canvas of the road can be used with safety as a priority. The track also needs to be exciting while the iconic sights of town highlighted,” Gardini said.
He cited Turn 2 of the track, a left from Jalan Ampang to Jalan Sultan Ismail, as an example of a high-speed approach which will then see the cars taking a sharp left onto the far carriageway, which on typical days would be where oncoming traffic is.
The existing structures along the track will also be used creatively, with the monorail pylons in the centre of Jalan Sultan Ismail being the turning points for a bus stop chicane which also serves the purpose of slowing down the cars that would otherwise be approaching the next curve at flat out speeds.
Gardini, who has years of experience with GPs including the Australian and Singaporean races, admits to being excited from day one for the race in Kuala Lumpur.
“Anything between 2.8km and 3.2km (Kuala Lumpur’s circuit is 3.2km) is the best length for a street circuit which usually sees lower average speeds but tighter turns. Here, there are also elevation changes which is reminiscent of Monaco and Macau, making it more interesting.
“Many cities are also built in boxy grids which means many turns end up being 90 degrees but the streets in KL are not like that. There are curves here that adds an interesting variation to the circuit and more importantly, creates a better spectacle,” he said.
City Hall is heavily involved in ensuring the event is a success and Gardini highlights some of the requirements the race needs which will involve a number of changes on the roads.
This includes, but is not limited to removal of a traffic island near Jalan Raja Chulan and ensuring there are no road signs, traffic lights and such in between the barriers where the cars race.
The only open-wheeled vehicle to race the Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix is the Formula Masters.
All this does not translate to potentially lawless roads as Gardini explained that likely these things will be changed to a removable type as it is still needed for the rest of the 362 days in a year.
“The three major roads will also be opened to traffic at the end of each race day. We have already begun talks with stakeholders in the area and discussed things including traffic management and such. This track has 147 points of access into all kinds of properties and building a track while still ensuring access to people is a challenge but things are progressing well, at this juncture,” Gardini said, adding that their stand was to do it if they could.
Works on the physical structures for the race will start about seven weeks before the event and the first signs of it will be the safety barriers.
“Most of it is going to end up on top of the kerb, which means even if we put it up now it will not disrupt pedestrians or motorists. As we progress, however, we will start running out of areas we can work on that will not disrupt the public. What we can do when the time comes to build the venue is to ensure as little disruption. No pain, no gain is the word,” he said.
Gardini mentioned that in terms of road standards, City Hall would also ensure the circuit is smooth with its various pits and manhole covers level with the road.
“Resurfacing the road should be done a couple of months before the event which should give it enough time to settle. This also takes into account that the race is for cars that do not have the same clearance issues as an F1 car,” he said.
“An F1 GP on this circuit is not possible for a lot of reasons. The requirements include a Category 1 licence and a number of facilities that the circuit does not have the space for including pit buildings and such.
“It is impossible to hold an F1 race without major changes such as widening roads that might mean knocking some buildings down. The KL City GP circuit also has some narrow sections which are alright in terms of safety for closed-wheel vehicles,” Gardini said, adding that the FIA inspector would come to town in July.
Gardini still carries within him the image of the faces of the people when the first car went out in the Singapore GP.
“It was an unbelievable sight. Though motors ports is quite prevalent here in Malaysia, I believe this street race will still be a spectacle to behold and amaze the people here,” he said.
