MME 2010: Mid-Night Start and Stricter Rules

The evolution of Sepang’s 12-hour Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race (MMER) continues for its 11th edition in 2010 with the event promoter and organizer – Sepang International Circuit (SIC) – drawing up tighter rules with strict conformity to FIA regulations especially on the eligibility of the race cars.

In a clear effort by SIC to take the MMER to a higher level and to attract more top professional foreign teams and drivers, it had also decided to revert back to a midnight start. That will see the 2010 race to be flagged off at the turn of the day on Sunday, August 8 and finishing 12 hours later at noon.

Hailed as Asia’s Biggest Race, the MMER, which started at the turn of the new millennium with five categories that included 1000cc Perodua Kenaris and four-wheel drive Kembara machines, will now only be a three-class competition: the GT Class, the Sports Production Class and the Touring Production Class. The eligibility of the competing cars is clearly defined through various articles stipulated by the world governing body for motor racing.

“Basically, the rationale behind the changes is to ensure that the MMER continues to be THE endurance race in Asia and that its regulations are acceptable into most endurance races around the world. Through these changes, we hope the event would continue to attract participants from all over the world to compete in what would have been the toughest endurance race in the world. Despite being just 12 hours, the tropical heat and humidity put the MMER as the most challenging and demanding endurance race in the world for both cars, drivers and teams,” said SIC Chief Executive Officer Razlan Razali, who is also the event director for the 2009 Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race.

“We have a comprehensive study on the existing rules and we sought views from the regular competitors as well in making the changes. Hence, the changes are also aimed at ensuring support amongst the local participants as well; given that the rules and regulations are more consistent to the governing bodies,” added Razlan.

With the new rules requiring for all competing cars to be fully homologated models by the FIA, they effectively disqualify the entry of the Radical cars. The open-top race cars had been a regular in the previous editions of the MMER and a winner last year in the A1 class through the partnership of Wira Dani Daim, Faizal Zelman and ex Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong in a new Radical SR8.

Over the years, there had been concern among some of the competitors in the participation of the open-top race cars on grounds of safety; given that the event had drawn a full grid of 77 cars over the years and the high risks brought about by an endurance race in terms of drivers’ tiredness and the unpredictable weather.

In a significant break of tradition as well, the promoter had announced the race regulations well ahead of the race in December; giving the competing teams plenty of time to prepare for the race and in securing their drivers.

“Yes, we had issued the race regulations very early for the 2010 race. We had good feedbacks from international teams and drivers for the MMER. They are very interested in taking part. In fact, we had Tom Coronel and a few of WTCC drivers competing last year and indications are that more would be coming for this year,” Razlan said.

In his comments, Coronel said that the timing of MMER was perfect to woo in drivers from the WTCC as well as other European series as August would be a lull period in the European racing calendar as the drivers and teams would having their summer holidays.

Some drivers though, Coronel said, would prefer to be racing rather than taking a long break. Taking himself as an example, the WTCC star said he would prefer racing week-in and week-out all year long.

Explaining on the change of racing time, Razlan said it was decided to make the 12-hour race even more demanding. “It’s also to be different as having started in the day for a few years. Now, we are back to the original time of starting from midnight to midday.

“I am sure we will see an even more exciting race … the teams would need to develop new strategies now to win. For those competitors whom have yet to experience the midnight run, they will definitely find it to be tougher and challenging. As you know, overall strategies and lots of luck are keys to winning the endurance races.

“But, the whole point is actually to make it exciting for the drivers and teams as well as for the spectators,” said Razlan, adding that SIC would be organising various off-track programmes prior to the start of the race to woo in the spectators.

After a midnight start for the first few editions, SIC decided on a mid-day start on grounds of safety. With a full grid and a crowded track that included fully modified supercars and 1600cc production cars, a midnight start offered a high probability of on-track incidents as compared to a mid-day start when drivers have better handling of their cars and racing situations.

But, with changes adopted last year where cars below 1900cc were omitted from the main race at the MMER and competed in their own race at the Sepang 1000-km Endurance, the frequency of overtaking was now very much less. The new MMER also had only 57 cars last year as compared to 77 cars in all its races except for the inaugural edition in 2000 when it had 52 cars.

Razlan – a self-confessed anti-smoker – also said that the organizers would also be very strict on the behavior of drivers and members of the team crew behavior especially on smoking and taking of alcohol in the pits.

“For smoking and drinking alcohol in the pit area, the offenders will be ejected from the pit area and fined RM300. We are also firm against fighting … for retaliating in a fight, the offender will be excluded from the race; and the team and team members would be ban from SIC for one year and fined RM3,000.

“The full list of offence and penalties are well listed in the SR. I hope everybody will read them, understand them and observe them fully. They are not just unique for SIC; but rules that are observed in all international races. Follow them and we will all have an enjoyable and memorable race this year,” added Razlan.