APRIL 23, 2007

Malaysia nails down a new deal

Perhaps a little spooked by the news that Singapore is getting deadly serious about a Grand Prix, the Malaysian government gave Mokhzani Mahathir, the chairman of the Sepang International Circuit (and the son of former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad), the go-ahead to do whatever was necessary to reach a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone and the two have now agreed a five-year extension to the existing contract, which will take the Malaysian GP to at least 2015. Mahathir said that the intention is to now upgrade the Kuala Lumpur track and add new elements to the facility, including what he called "an automotive-related theme park".