| The Sepang circuit staged its first F1 race in 1999, and
proved to be a popular track with the drivers. The debut
race will always be remembered for a controversial Ferrari
disqualification, when Irvine and Schumacher finished 1st
and 2nd, only to have their points taken away over a
disagreement about the size of the F399’s bargeboards.
The points were eventually reinstated after an FIA hearing
in Paris, just prior to the final race of the 1999 world
championship.
In 2001, the race moves from its 'traditional' late
slot to a new March date.
A lap of Sepang with Benetton star Jenson Button
"At the end of the pit straight I will reach
around 185 mph (300 kph) in 6th gear before braking hard
for the first turn taken in second gear at around 45 mph
(75 kph).
Very shortly after this is another slightly slower
second gear left-hand corner taken at under 43 mph (70 kph).
From here, I accelerate through the next right-hand corner
which is taken flat up to around 175 mph (285 kph) in top
gear.
From here I have to brake down to second gear and 65
mph (105 kph) for the next right-hand corner. The long
left-hand corner following this is taken in fourth gear.
The first part at around 155 mph (250 kph) and then
slightly losing speed down to 142 mph (230 kph) with the
car being stabilised with just a little bit of left foot
braking.
This corner is immediately followed by a right hand
curve, again taken in 4th gear at a very similar speed,
before accelerating on the short straight up to 5th gear
to 170 mph (275 kph), then braking again to third gear and
105 mph (170 kph) for the next right-hand corner. Another
similar short straight where I will get into 5th gear and
about 173 mph (280 kph) leads to the very tight left hand
1st gear corner taken at just over 43 mph (70 kph).
A long fourth gear 142 mph (230 kph) corner then leads
into the difficult 3rd gear 85 mph (140 kph) corner which
has a very difficult entry. The next left-hand curve is
taken extremely fast in 5th gear at 155 mph (250 kph)
before braking for the penultimate corner which is taken
in 2nd gear at around 70 mph (115 kph).
On the back straight I will reach very similar speed to
the pit straight before braking hard for the final corner,
which is taken in 2nd gear at just over 50 mph (80kph).
This leads back on to the pit straight where I will cross
the finish line at around 165 mph (265 kph)." |
