Formula 1 2009 Malaysia Sepang Practice

I have tickets to see the Formula 1 race in Malaysia 2009, I have an interest in cars, motorsport and F1. This is the first time I will have ever gone to an actual F1 race though, so all new to me!

BMW model with models

Firstly I had to get a bus to the circuit. I left early to try and get the first one, I wanted to catch the early practice and also see the GP2 Asia and Formula BMW practice which were the support races for the F1. I was convinced by the cheaper ‘Aerobus’ guy rather then the official run by Air Asia ‘Skybus’. They said they were stopping at the F1 circuit so how bad of a decision could this be? The difference in bus companies is the Skybus operates every half hour and tries to fill up but leaves on time if it does not. The Aerobus only leaves when the bus is full, so if you’re the first on, you might be in for a wait. There was a huge queue for the Skybus so I figured I should be alright on the Aerobus over this weekend (wouldn’t trust them getting me to a flight on time though).

Toro Rosso

Once on the bus I also realised I forgot my voucher to claim my tickets! I thought I’d take a chance and just go, and buy tickets for 1 day, it should be cheap as it was practice day anyway.
So we arrive at the Sepang circuit, the driver says something quickly in Malay, no one really understood what he said, but he shook his head and carried on driving to the airport instead (which is a 10-15minute drive away from the track). I complained saying it was not made clear I was at the Sepang circuit and wanted them to take me back (I wasn’t the only one, also people from another bus got off seemingly making the same mistake). I had to take the Air Asia skybus to the track instead from the airport, costing me more money. Never mind, I won’t be making this mistake again (hopefully!). I got off the bus and walked up to the ticket counter with a man from Colchester. He seemed bitter about the bus situation, and was here purely to see the F1, he came last year too and done the Singapore race due to being there on a business trip, clearly it couldn’t be that bad then! He informed me test day was free entry but best to check up. I asked at the ticket stand and it was, so I got grand stand seating for the day!

Brawn GP

After reading about signs in the area, the F1 drivers were coming out to do autographs over the 3 days in the grandstand area; I could only go today as I don’t have grandstand tickets for the rest of the weekend. Williams, Force India and McLaren. Being British I wanted Lewis Hamilton’s autograph, I thought it would look quite nice on my bag!

So I queued up for 2 hours in the sun getting slightly burnt in the process patiently waiting whilst the other teams went first. I was queued behind an overweight Indian man. He had a BMW top on, a Ferrari hat, and seemed most excited to see the Force India team “Yes it is my country!” He exclaimed excitingly. Despite that I think he wanted the McLaren drivers autographs. Certainly a indecisive man. He asked me why I seemed so serious, its just my usual apperance I said. He told me a joke to get me to laugh “I throw a ball up, why does it come down?”. I reply “gravity”. He said “no, it’s because there is no one up to play with”. I laughed, I’m not sure if it was genuinely funny, a nervous laugh or at myself for why I’m in this situation. Maybe it was a combination of all 3.

Ferrari

Anyway the other teams got through and Lewis Hamilton came on to much cheers from the crowd. I was fairly close to the front, he and teammate Heikki Kovalainen was on for about 20 minutes, I would be cutting it close but still hopeful. The timer was counting down and of course people wanted to chat rather then get something signed and move on, so it was moving slow. I was 10 places away from getting up for the autograph when they announced the 2 drivers were leaving. So close :( and so burnt too, you have to get there mega early for these sort of rare occasions, 2 hours is clearly not enough!

For lunch I had a naff chicken hotdog that was overpriced, it came with some original flavoured Pringles and ‘dessert’ which was some Cadburys biscuit things, probably the last thing anyone would ever want in 35degree heat is chocolate, so they just got stuffed in a bag for later. I quickly downed a couple of Solero ice creams though, they certainly helped cool me down after the Hamilton fiasco in the heat.

Brawn GP again

All this and I’ve not even mentioned the F1 cars! My main comment is they are very loud, 130dB+ to be precise, enough to give anyone hearing damage, it actually got so loud in the grandstand I started to find it uncomfortable and set off to leave, then I saw earplugs for sale at a stand so bought some and went back in; best 10 Ringgit I’ve ever spent! (I noticed they were up in price the next day too).

It was a good day overall though so I looked forward to the rest of the weekend.

Tagged as: F1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sepang