THE inaugural KL City Grand Prix (KLGP) will take place in the nation’s capital from Aug 7 to 9.
The sporting event will see local and international drivers from leading GT racing teams tearing up the asphalt in their super cars around a temporary 3.2km circuit around the KLCC area.
The 11-turns circuit will start from Suria KLCC, proceeding unto Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Pinang and finishing at Suria KLCC.
The event KLGP is organised by GT Global Race (M) Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with City Hall.
An agreement was signed between GT Global Race and the City Hall to stage the race over a period of five years.
The agreement was signed by City Hall director-general Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin and GT Global Race president and chief operating officer M. Arrasu, and witnessed by GT Global Race chairman Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanku Ja’afar and mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib.
“City Hall will set up a steering committee headed by the mayor to ensure KLGP complies with the standards set by International Automobile Federation and Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM),” said Naquiyuddin.
Ahmad Phesal said: “We are thrilled to host the first edition of KLGP.”
Tunku Naquiyuddin said the KLGP would stand out as an iconic sports event not only in Malaysia but also in the region.
“For the first time, a world-class auto racing event will take place in our city. People will get to see super cars such as Lamboghinis, Ferraris and Porsches racing around.”
Naquiyuddin said concerts, cultural entertainment and a food village would also be held from Aug 1 to 9.
He added that PriceWaterhouseCoopers had estimated that the KLGP would draw 100,000 tourists to the city and the figure was expected to grow to 150,000 by 2020.
“This will boost occupancy in hotels and food and beverage outlets. Street vendors, tourism agencies and transport companies also stand to benefit from this.
“The event will create 6,300 jobs and it will increase to 10,000 in the years to come.”
The KLGP is also projected to generate a revenue of RM760 million in its first year and will grow to RM1.2 billion by 2020.