V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton hopes to make progress on the category’s quest for more Asian events at this weekend’s KL City GP.

Warburton says he’ll be meeting with potential event promoters from the region while the inaugural KL City GP takes place.

V8 Supercars has stated a desire to have at least two Asian races by 2017, but will only do so in conjunction with local promoters.

The category has a heads of agreement with KL City promoter GT Global Race to return to the streets of Kuala Lumpur for a full championship round next year.

That deal is dependent on the event itself continuing as well as various V8 Supercars conditions being met, including the construction of a full pitlane.

KL City’s inaugural event has today endured somewhat of a false start, with track action delayed due to issues finalising construction of the circuit.

V8 Supercars meanwhile announced earlier this year a memorandum of understanding for a separate Asian event in 2017, believed to be in Indonesia, should a proposed circuit be built.

“There’s a couple (of potential promoters) here this weekend that we’ll be having meetings with,” Warburton told Speedcafe.com.

“We’re very active in this region…. we’ve got a number of other things on the go.

“(Being here this weekend) raises questions and increases interest when people see it happen. Just how much publicity this five-car demonstration has gotten for this event in an example enough.”

While casting a wide net for promoters, V8 Supercars is hopeful that the GT Global Race’s own expansion plans could see the partnership grow beyond the KL City race.

Although the company, which is headed by son of the King of Malaysia, Tunku Naquiyuddin, is yet to prove its credentials, its management has been bullish on future prospects.

“Being the first year, it has been quite challenging,” GT Global president M Arrusa said at a pre-event press conference.

“However, we are confident that we will improve after the experience and lessons learnt from planning, organising and managing this year’s race.

“We are even thinking of going regional with this ‘street circuit race within a city’ concept as we have had requests to hold similar races in neighbouring cities like Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila.”

While stressing that this year’s KL City GP is a ‘test bed’ for GT Global Race, V8 Supercars is keeping a close eye on its movements.

“Even if one of those came off we’d be happy,” said Warburton of the potential future street races.

“But first thing’s first with this event and they (GT Global) are incredibly realistic.

“They’re on the front foot about needing to put out a proof of concept and building for year two and beyond.”