The iconic Malaysian track will henceforth be known as the Petronas Sepang International Circuit.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and Petronas have recently inked a new sponsorship deal, which will see the iconic Malaysian track be henceforth officially renamed Petronas Sepang International Circuit. A three-year naming rights partnership, this announcement came before the 2023 Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia 2023 (MotoGP Malaysia) that will run from November 10 to 12 at the circuit.
Unfortunately, neither SIC nor Petronas disclosed the value of the deal. Despite the oil and gas giant’s current sponsorship of the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team too, it is also still highly unlikely for a Malaysian GP to once again be held at the iconic track.
Interestingly however, SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif did leave the door open for a return of more ‘world class events’ at the track. “This development shall open doors to new opportunities to host more world class events at our world class venue for Petronas as one of the industry leaders in motorsports through its engagements in Formula 1 and MotoGP,’’ he said in a statement today.
He further added for the partnership in general to represent the shared vision of commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering exceptional experiences to local and international fans as well as visitors to further elevate the stature of Malaysia as a destination for sports and entertainment.
Petronas senior general manager of Group Strategic Relations and Communications Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz meanwhile echoed this sentiment, by stating she is honoured to embark into this new partnership that represents the pinnacle of their long-standing relationship and commitment to support the growth of sports and entertainment industry in Malaysia.
“This partnership goes beyond just naming rights — it signifies our dedication to promoting world-class events, fostering talent development, and showcasing our nation’s capabilities on a global stage,” she said.
The last Malaysian GP held to date at Sepang was in 2017, with Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing winning said race. “If we could host an F1 race we would already have done it, but for now, we can’t afford to have the races,” remarked current Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh in regards to the possibility of the pinnacle of motorsports returning to the track earlier this year.
RM 20 million was previously allocated to the circuit by the government earlier this year for urgent maintenance. These included resurfacing the track from turn 7 to 12 as part of its homologation renewal for the year to meet FIM requirements, in addition to other miscellaneous infrastructure upgrades.
