The Sepang International Circuit and Eurosport Events are innovating in Malaysia and launching, from December 13 to 15, the first double car and motorcycle event which will mark the history of motor sports in Asia. This unique meeting will be one of the first under the joint aegis of the FIM and the FIA.
The great double event combining the passion for competition and spectacle has just been announced on February 12 by Razlan Ahmad Razali, Managing Director of the Sepang International Circuit, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, during the PETRONAS SIC Motorsports Association of Malaysia awards ceremony.
The first edition of the 8 Hours of Sepang next December will be the qualifying round for the 8 Suzuka 2020 Hours but also one of the pillars of an unprecedented double event in the world of motor sports in Asia. On December 14 and 15, the Sepang International Circuit and Eurosport Events will combine for the first time on the same weekend two major international two- and four-wheel events on the track, day and night: the FIM EWC with the 8 Hours of Sepang and the 2019 FIA WTCR-World Touring Car Grand Final presented by Oscaro.
Qualifying for Suzuka
The 8 Hours of Sepang, 2nd round of the 2019-2020 FIM EW calendar between the 2019 Bol d'Or and the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, will mark the opening of the winter events initiated by Eurosport Events, promoter of the Endurance World Championship , as part of its calendar reform.
Saturday December 14, the very first edition of the 8 Hours of Sepang will put on track the best Asian teams who wish to qualify for the Suzuka 8 Hours grand final and the permanent FIM EWC teams who will be invited to Sepang.
Wide media exposure
The 8 Hours of Sepang, like the FIA WTCR/Oscaro grand finale, will benefit from extensive international media exposure on five continents with the support of the Discovery group.
Razlan Razali, Sepang International Circuit CEO
« After F1 left Malaysia, we wanted to add new international events to our calendar. Following the votes of our fans and the study of these championships, the two most important series were the FIM EWC and the FIA WTCR, two world championships of which Eurosport Events is the promoter.
This special collaboration with Eurosport Events will give rise to an exceptional and unique event which will make history in Malaysia by uniting two world championships for the first time on the same weekend. Both races will take place until sunset and the checkered flag will rise under the new lights of the SIC, Sepang International Circuit.
The FIM Endurance World Championship is the most important international motorcycle endurance championship. The Sepang round called 8 Hours of Sepang will see Japanese and Asian teams compete as it will be a qualifying race for the 8 Suzuka 2020 Hours.
Malaysia's participation is key to the success of this event. With the recent creation of the PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, we plan to enter our two MotoGP riders and our Malaysian Moto2 rider, Khairul Idham Pawi, for the first round of the 8 Hours of Sepang.
I am sure that these fascinating world championships and the commitment of our drivers will attract motorsport fans from all over the world to Malaysia.»
François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events
« We are proud to work with the Sepang International Circuit on this first major FIM / FIA double event and to write a new page in the history of motorsport in Malaysia. This weekend promises to be an exceptional event which will combine action and spectacle, day and night, for the pleasure of fans of motor and motorcycle sport. This will be an unprecedented and major meeting of the FIM EWC season, qualifying for Suzuka 8 Hours 2020. In FIA WTCR/Oscaro, this grand finale at Sepang should be the highlight of the season with the crowning of the 2019 champion."
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