F1 ambassador Ning rocks Bangsar with street party

KUALA LUMPUR March 8 - Sepang International Circuit (SIC), the host of the fifth Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix from March 21 to 23, on Saturday night took the F1 carnival and fiesta spirit to the streets of Bangsar here with the `Grand Prix City Street Party'.

The event, witnessed by over 2,000 people and launched by SIC chairman Tan Sri Basir Ismail, featured a performance by local songstress Ning Baizura in her new role as the `Malaysian Ambassador of the 2003 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix'.

SIC general manager Ahmad Mustafa said the F1 Fest `street party' style concept was designed to allow everybody to experience the festival atmosphere of Formula 1 in the run-up to Malaysia's biggest annual sporting event.

"Showcase performances by our new `Malaysian Ambassador of F1' Ning Baizura, supported by Winnie Kwok and a troupe of Samba Dancers certainly prepare Malaysia for the World's Hottest Race," Ahmad said in a statement here Saturday.

Commenting on her appointment, Ning said: "I am extremely proud and honoured to have been chosen by SIC to represent them in their promotion of the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix 2003."

"The F1 is the most prestigious annual global sporting event and attracts the creme de la creme of international high society as well as over 2 billion TV spectators around the world.

"This event is the country's biggest opportunity to showcase its ...multi-racial harmony and paradise like tourism offerings. I am ever willing to lend a hand to promote it and our country."

"Malaysians should be proud of the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix as it elevates the country's sporting status as never before seen heights, and we must remember that the Grand Prix was brought to our shores principally for Malaysians to enjoy. I will be lending my support to the GP on race day; I hope to see many Malaysians there too." Ning said.

Commenting on the F1 excitement on track, Ahmad said, "From the sporting aspect, the FIA has gone out of its way this year to make F1 more competitive and at the same time more appealing and spectator attractive.

"The new rulings eliminating traction control, launch control, car-to-pit radio, real-time engineer-to-car telemetry and spare car, combined with the new qualifying session protocols, will surely mean a more competitive season, increased spectator enjoyment and a championship fight down to the wire.

"With in addition of three support races - the Porsche Carrera Cup, the Formula BMW and Formula Malaysia, the 2003 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix is definitely an event not to be missed," said Ahmad.