EWC: Sepang to host 8-hour race from 2019

The Endurance World Championship will be heading to Malaysia, with the news today that the Sepang International Circuit will be joining the 2019-2020 calendar with a planned eight-hour race in December 2019.

Making the announcement at the Suzuka 8 Hour race, the race will become the qualifying round for endurance racing’s most prestigious race, in a move that is likely to bring the full-factory teams and bikes normally reserved for the Japanese race into action not once but twice a year.

The race, which will take place on the newly-floodlit Sepang circuit, is a replacement for Formula One, with circuit bosses choosing the replacement in a public poll where they asked their fans and spectators which series they would most like to see come to the track.

And, speaking at the launch of the event, Sepang CEO Razlan Razali also hinted that their new MotoGP team could well join in the action, confirming that he’s keen to see the SIC Racing Team line up on the grid for the inaugural running of the event.

“Based on a public survey that SIC conducted for 3 months last year, we are pleased that this race series FIMEWC was voted as events that Malaysians would like to see at Sepang Circuit as a replacement to Formula One. We are also pleased that the Sepang round will be the qualification round for Japanese and Asian Teams for the grand finale to participate in the iconic Suzuka 8 Hours.

“The finest teams competing in the full FIM EWC season will also be there honing their weapons ahead of Suzuka. Interests for 2 wheels event have grown in Malaysia for the last 8 years and we are excited for this event to take place in December 2019 after all the major events are completed and we hope to attract top riders to race in the Sepang 8 Hours.”