Sepang's record F1 crowd: nearly 100,000 tickets sold, 3,000 left, and cloud seeding against the haze

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has set a ticket sales record for this weekend's Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, with nearly 100,000 tickets sold. With only a few thousand seats left, organisers have also worked with national agencies to keep the regional haze from disrupting the event.

"A figure we have never seen before"

SIC chief executive Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the circuit is 100% ready. "This is a figure we have never seen before in terms of ticket sales," he said, as reported by Bernama and Malay Mail.

According to Bernama and Media Selangor, about 3,000 tickets were still available for grandstand and hillstand seats on bahraingp.com as of 30 September.

Azhan said SIC got ready in under two months. Preparing for an F1 race usually takes six to seven months. Malaysia was confirmed as the replacement host only in late July, after the original Bahrain race was cancelled because of the Middle East conflict.

Double the old Malaysian GP crowds

The demand is a big change from the final years of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Speaking to Motorsport.com, as carried by Yahoo Sports, Azhan said: "In the (Malaysian GP) glory days, it was close to somewhere around 40,000 to 50,000 tickets sold."

That report noted that Sepang's highest attendance was 126,690 at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix. Crowds later fell to around 45,000 in 2016, and Malaysia ended its hosting deal after 2017. About half of this year's ticket buyers are reportedly from abroad.

Bahrain keeps the ticketing revenue and pays the F1 hosting fees. Malaysia hopes to benefit from tourism and spending around the event.

Cloud seeding to keep the haze away

The one concern has been air quality. Haze linked to vegetation fires in the region has affected parts of Malaysia this month. SIC said it is working with the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) to monitor pollutant levels. Cloud seeding has been carried out around the area to bring rain and reduce the haze.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil sounded cautiously optimistic in comments reported by F1inGenerale: "We hope the haze stays under control. Recent heavy rains could help reduce the haze." He said authorities expected the weekend's major events to go ahead normally.

An F1 spokesperson told the same outlet: "There is absolutely no risk to the event and the conditions where the event is taking place are not at any level of concern."

What fans should know

With motorcycles and most private vehicles banned from the circuit grounds, organisers are urging ticket holders to use the 115 free shuttle buses running from KLIA Terminal 2, the KLIA Long-Term Car Park, Mitsui Outlet Park and Bandar Enstek. A further 30 buses will operate inside the circuit from 7am to midnight. Any remaining tickets are sold only through official channels, and fans should avoid unofficial resellers.

Key takeaways

• SIC has sold nearly 100,000 tickets, its highest ever, with about 3,000 left.
• The circuit was ready in under two months instead of the usual six to seven.
• Peak Malaysian GP sales were 40,000–50,000, according to SIC's CEO.
• Cloud seeding has been used to reduce haze, and F1 says the event is not at risk.

FAQ

Are there still tickets for the F1 race at Sepang? About 3,000 grandstand and hillstand tickets were available on bahraingp.com as of 30 September.

Will the haze affect the Sepang race? Authorities are monitoring air quality daily and have used cloud seeding. F1 says there is no risk to the event.

What was Sepang's previous attendance record? The 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix drew 126,690 spectators, according to reports.

Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail, Media Selangor, Motorsport.com via Yahoo Sports, F1inGenerale