Malaysia's motorsport super-weekend: how to do F1 at Sepang and Tokyo Auto Salon, 2–4 October
An F1 Grand Prix and Malaysia's biggest JDM show are happening on the same three days, about 40km apart. Here's how to plan your weekend.
Malaysian petrolheads don't usually get to choose between F1 and a major car show on the same weekend. From Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October, they do:
- Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit, F1's first race in Malaysia since 2017
- Tokyo Auto Salon Malaysia 2026 at MAEPS Serdang, 10am–10pm daily, with a new outdoor drift demo area
Serdang and Sepang are only about 40km apart. With the F1 sessions finishing late afternoon and TASM open until 10pm, you can do both. Here's how.
The key times
| F1 at Sepang (Malaysian time) | TASM at MAEPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 2 Oct | FP1 12.30pm, FP2 4pm | 10am–10pm |
| Sat 3 Oct | FP3 12.30pm, Qualifying 4pm | 10am–10pm |
| Sun 4 Oct | Race 3pm | 10am–10pm |
Plan A: The hardcore (three-day F1 pass + one TASM evening)
- Friday: Go to Sepang for FP1 and FP2. Practice day is the quietest of the weekend, so it's a good time to walk the circuit. Leave straight after FP2 (5pm) and head to MAEPS for a TASM evening. The halls are open until 10pm, and a RM68 day pass covers it.
- Saturday: Spend the day at Sepang. Qualifying finishes at 5pm. Head home and rest.
- Sunday: Race day. Get there early, stay late and let the traffic clear.
Plan B: The balanced fan (F1 on Sunday, TASM on Saturday)
- Saturday: Spend the whole day at TASM, watching drift demos in the afternoon and walking the show halls in the evening. You can watch qualifying live on your phone (4pm).
- Sunday: Go to Sepang for the race. If you have a three-day ticket, still consider Friday practice too.
Plan C: No F1 ticket? No problem The RM200 Madani tickets and several grandstands are sold out. You can still:
- Spend the day at TASM, where tickets start from RM48 for students, OKU and seniors
- Watch the Grand Prix at 3pm Sunday on a big screen with friends. Many mamaks and sports bars will be showing it
- If you're a MotoGP fan, the Japanese MotoGP at Motegi is also on Sunday 4 October, and Malaysian Moto3 rider Hakim Danish is racing
Travel tips for a double-header weekend
- Rail for Sepang: The KLIA Ekspres Sepang Race Train Pass (RM200 for six trips KL Sentral–KLIA T2, including the shuttle to the circuit) runs trains from 5am to 1am. It's the easiest way to avoid race-day jams.
- Drive for MAEPS: Serdang is easy to reach by highway, though the area will be busy all weekend.
- Don't try to squeeze in both on race day. Sunday traffic leaving Sepang after a 3pm start will be very heavy. If you want TASM, do it on Friday evening or Saturday.
- Budget: A three-day B/C Hillstand pass for MyKad holders (RM809.60), the train pass (RM200) and a TASM day pass (RM68) come to just under RM1,080, before food and merch.
- Weather: October afternoons mean storms. Pack a poncho for Sepang. TASM's outdoor drift area may also pause for lightning.
Why this weekend matters
Sepang is showing F1 it can still put on a big race, and TASM has doubled down with a bigger venue and live action. For one weekend, the Klang Valley is the busiest motorsport destination in Asia. Pack sunscreen, earplugs and a charged power bank.
Sources: Formula1.com; paultan.org; Tokyo Auto Salon Malaysia; SAYS; Bernama.