Parking Priced in Dinar, RM200 Train Pass: New Sepang F1 Transport Updates

With a week to go before the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit, several new transport updates have been announced. They include parking prices, a special KLIA Ekspres pass and a warning that e-hailing demand could jump sharply during race week.

Here is what is new, and what it means for Malaysian fans heading to Sepang on 2–4 October.

Parking: priced in Bahraini dinar

As Bahrain is the official promoter of the event, parking passes are sold in Bahraini dinar (BHD). According to paultan.org, the three-day passes cost:

The Rakyat Post reported a similar range of around RM244 to RM651 for the three days. Zones P2, P3 and P15 have already sold out, and some of the cheaper zones are selling fast.

Bahrain's control of pricing follows the agreement reached when the race moved to Malaysia: Bahrain keeps the ticket and race revenue while covering most of the costs of moving the event.

Important for riders: there will be no motorcycle parking at the circuit. Motorcyclists are asked to park at shuttle pick-up points, such as Mitsui Outlet Park, the KLIA terminals and Bandar Baru Enstek, and take a shuttle bus to the circuit.

KLIA Ekspres RM200 race pass

For fans coming from Kuala Lumpur, KLIA Ekspres is offering a RM200 pass covering three days of return trips between KL Sentral and KLIA Terminal 2, plus shuttle bus transfers from KLIA T2 to the circuit.

Key details reported by paultan.org:

• Valid: 2–4 October
• Where to buy: KLIA Ekspres website, mobile app or self-service kiosks. Sales started on 22 September and run until race day.
• Train frequency on 2–3 October: every 20 minutes, from 5am to 1am
• Train frequency on 4 October (race day): every 20 minutes from 5am to 11am, every 15 minutes from 11am to 11pm, then every 20 minutes until 1am

For a three-day visitor, the pass costs less than the cheapest parking pass, before counting fuel and tolls.

E-hailing: prepare for surge pricing

Gig-worker group LEAD Malaysia expects e-hailing and delivery demand to rise by 200% to 300% during race week, based on patterns seen at other large international events. That demand is expected across Sepang, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya.

For fans, this means:

• Higher fares: dynamic pricing is likely when demand outstrips the number of drivers, especially after the race ends on Sunday.
• Longer waits: thousands of fans leaving at the same time could mean long queues for rides.
• A back-up plan: if you plan to take e-hailing home, have the train or shuttle as a back-up option.

LEAD Malaysia also urged drivers to see each trip as a chance "to introduce Malaysia to the world."

Quick decision guide

• Coming from KL Sentral: the RM200 KLIA Ekspres pass is the easiest option.
• Driving: book parking early, as zones are selling out.
• Riding a motorcycle: park at a shuttle hub, not at the circuit.
• Using e-hailing: expect surge pricing and long waits after sessions.

Key takeaways

• Sepang F1 parking passes start at around RM244 (BHD22.62) for three days.
• Zones P2, P3 and P15 have sold out.
• There is no motorcycle parking at the circuit; riders should use shuttle hubs.
• KLIA Ekspres sells a RM200 three-day race pass from KL Sentral including shuttle transfers.
• E-hailing demand is expected to rise by 200% to 300% during race week.

FAQ

How much is parking for the F1 race at Sepang? Three-day passes range from about RM244 to RM651, depending on the zone. Some zones have sold out.

Can I ride my motorcycle to Sepang? Not to the circuit itself. Riders should park at shuttle pick-up points and take a free shuttle bus.

What does the KLIA Ekspres race pass include? Three days of return trips between KL Sentral and KLIA T2, plus shuttle bus transfers to the circuit, for RM200.

Sources: paultan.org, The Rakyat Post, New Straits Times, Wikipedia