MALAYSIAN F1 GP: TURNOUT EXCEEDS TARGET

SEPANG, April 11 (Bernama) -- The presence of three Malaysian-backed teams
helped push up the attendance to this year's Pertonas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix to
105,018 people, surpassing the target set by Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

SIC chairman Mokhzani Mahathir said the good attendance was also
due to the success of the promotion held by the SIC since Friday.

"Although there were not many people coming on Friday, the attendance picked
since yesterday and today," he told reporters at the conclusion of the race
Sunday.

In a statement, the SIC said the attendance was 17,685 people on Friday,
22,325 Saturday and 65,008 Sunday. The SIC targeted 100,000 visitors this year.

Last year, the attendance was 97,864 people.

The three Malaysian-backed teams in the race's 13th edition are Lotus
Renault GP through Proton, Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team through Petronas and
Team Lotus headed by aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes.

The third round of this season's race will be held at Shanghai Circuit in
China next weekend.