Fans pumped up over KL City Grand Prix

Race time: Drivers and their crew getting their cars ready before
the Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix yesterday. — S.S.KANESAN / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the hot weather, Malaysian and foreign motorsport fans crowded the streets in the city centre for the Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix.

Fans were thrilled by the piercing sound of the roaring cars with many filling the pedestrian walkways to catch a glimpse of the action.

A large crowd also gathered at the Bukit Nanas monorail station yesterday to capture images of the street racing on their cameras.

Assistant executive in communications and IT Ariffudin Yusoff, 30, said he decided to “kill two birds with one stone” by combining his love for motorsports and photography on the second day of the event.

The three-day event ends today.

At the Fan Zone located next to the Malaysia Tourism Centre, Chin Yu Shan, 40, tried her hands at the racing simulator at the Macau Grand Prix booth.

“It was my first time trying this and it was fun,” she said.

She said she and her husband, Jordan Yeoh Se Yak, 41, booked a hotel room with a view of the race to watch it live for three days.

“I did this as his birthday treat which was on Friday,” she said.

Australian Jason Harrison, 40, who came with his wife Valentina Ribakova, 30, and their one-year-old daughter, said the event was a “great coincidence” to kick start their four-day trip here.

“It’s our first time exploring the city and we found this. I haven’t been to such a race since I was small.

“This is a great way to attract people worldwide to come here like the Gold Coast known for its annual Grand Prix,” he said.

Motorists have been advised to use public transport as five major roads were scheduled to be closed during the race. The affected roads were Jalan Ampang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Perak and Jalan P. Ramlee which were closed from 6am to 6pm.

-thestar online.