Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has officially announced that Malaysia will actively participate in the FIA Formula One World Championship through its own racing team called 1Malaysia F1 Team starting from 2010 onwards.
The entire venture will apparently be a government and private initiative involving the collaborative experience of Proton and Lotus. The cars will initially be built in Lotus’ F1 headquarters in Norfolk, UK but will eventually be designed, made and tested at the Sepang International Circuit.
The PM said “It will all be made in Malaysia, and made by Malaysians,” he said, adding that even the pit crew will be made up of Malaysians despite being led by the British F1 technical expert Mike Gascoyne.
He said the team was supported by world-class expertise, and backed by the Sepang international circuit, Motorsports Association of Malaysia as well as Automobile Association of Malaysia.
Speaking to reporters at Ministry of Finance in Putrajaya, Najib said the Malaysian F1 team will be based at the Sepang circuit with pit stop staff coming from Malaysia.
“It will be a Malaysia manufactured car,” said Najib, adding that a race to find a suitable Malaysian driver was underway with six potential drivers already shortlisted and the two drivers will be revealed by Oct 31.
When asked on the reason to join Formula One at the present situation where the global economic outlook was not at it’s best, Najib said the project was a private initiative and will expose Proton and Lotus to the world stage. “It will make sure our brands are stronger and recognised by the world,” he said.
He added that the government’s participation in the project was via Proton.
Najib has refused to reveal the investment figure but teams are known to spend up to US$500 million a year on research and development. The companies involved in this initiative include Proton, Air Asia and Naza Motors.
Proton Holdings Bhd chairperson Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said the project was still at an early stage and as such was unable to reveal the total investment involved and the shareholding structures.
We wish the team all the best and hope to see Proton serve the “rakyat” (citizens) with more worthy cars considering the huge technical know-how that there is to be gained through F1 participation.
