SEPANG CIRCUIT OFFERS CHALLENGES FOR F1 DRIVERS

SEPANG, April 2 (Bernama) -- After competing in a cool and damp condition
at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne last week, the Formula One (F1) drivers
are now getting ready to face the hot and humid condition of the Malaysian Grand
Prix this weekend at the Sepang Circuit.

"I've always looked foward to the Sepang race. It's a technical
circuit...one that puts a heavy demand on your fitness level and pays you back
if you find a good rhythm.

"So, I am looking forward to the challenge and after Bahrain and Melbourne,
my confidence level in the car continues to grow," said Finland's Heikki
Kovalainen of Lotus Racing team when met at the launching of an energy drink,
LR8, in Kuala Lumpur Thursday.

"If its rains in Sepang, it is possible that it will become the strategy
factor for all teams. Some will face difficulties and some cars will not work so
well. Everything can happen when it rains...but I am happy to race in the rain,"
he said.

His team-mate, Italian Jarno Trulli agreed that the Sepang Circuit would be
among the toughest circuits in the F1 racing calendar.

"Sepang is a hard race for sure...the heat and humidity can make it pretty
uncomfortable. It will be the same for everyone but maybe my experience will
help me cope with it better than some.

"I like the track itself. Finding a decent set-up is a challenge as it is
pretty hard on brakes and tyres. It will be interesting to see how the car
behaves. I will do my best and we'll see what happens," said Trulli.

Jenson Button of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, who won the
Malaysian title in the rain-halted competition last year, noted: "Sepang is an
awesome circuit, one that I love driving on, and I think I’ll be able to further
develop and improve my relationship with the car here.

"It’s a circuit that not only requires smooth and precise input, but also
real commitment through some of the high-speed stuff. I think it’s a circuit
that every driver loves," added the recently crowned 2010 Australian Grand Prix
champion in the team's press release, today.

As for seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher of the Mercedes GP
Petronas F1 Team, Sepang Circuits remains an interesting venue for him.

"I've been here many times and enjoyed some good and difficult outings, so
we will just have to see where we will end up this weekend," he said.

For the record, Schumacher took the chequered flag of the Malaysian Grand
Prix in 2000, 2001 and 2004.

Schumacher's team-mate, Nico Rosberg, noted that Sepang Circuit was his
favourite due to its variation of corners and layout.

"The track here in Malaysia is one of my favourite tracks. It is really
nice to drive on. There are lots of different combinations of corners and it is
very challenging.

"It's going to be tough for the drivers because of the heat. It is one of
the most challenging races for a driver’s fitness in the year but that’s why I
did all my training in the winter, so I should be fine.

"Car-wise, it is also quite demanding with the temperatures but I think we
made some good progress on the set-up in Melbourne which should help us here
also. So, I'm looking forward to a good weekend," Rosberg told reporters in the
pre-race press conference at the Media Centre, here, today.

-- BERNAMA