Track running delayed at KL City GP

The opening day of track running at the KL City GP has been delayed as locals continue work on finishing the street circuit.

Craig Lowndes was scheduled to be the first car on track at 0845 local time ahead of practice for all four competing categories.

Track activity is now not expected to take place until the afternoon, with crews still working on the circuit through the morning.

Cars will not be allowed on track until the circuit has received sign-off from FIA safety delegate Tim Schenken.

The delays are understood to have stemmed from difficulties in fully closing the circuit to local traffic, which in turn slowed final track works.

V8 Supercars teams completed track walks early this morning in what was described as ‘chaotic’ circumstances as officials continued efforts to close and finish the track.

Although yet to be confirmed, it is hoped that a revised schedule will see each category receive one practice session in the afternoon.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton, whose category is at the event for a five-car demonstration, says patience is required for such an ambitious project.

“It’s a very audacious plan to run a street race in the heart of KL and we need to be patient,” Warburton told Speedcafe.com.

“We would never run our cars in an environment that we didn’t deem as safe and we fully support Tim Schenken’s decision (not to sign off on the circuit ahead of the scheduled start).”