Just two weeks to go before the inaugural KL City Grand Prix takes place - event organiser GT Global Race is making final preparations for the street race on August 7-9, which it says is expected to draw a crowd of 100,000.
However, not everyone is in the same buoyant mood, The Malay Mail reports. Publicity on the event has been sparse thus far, and many of those working, conducting businesses and living around the race zone are claiming that they are in the dark about the event and are thinking of alternatives to brave the expected traffic congestion.
Taxi drivers have voiced their grouses too, complaining of a loss of income during the race weekend as roads around the area will be closed off. The police are also reportedly unimpressed with the safety aspects, adding there have been more questions than answers in the way things have developed thus far.
Concrete barriers and metal fences have been erected along Jalan Ampang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan P. Ramlee, and aside from being an eyesore, the barricading work has raised security and safety concerns, the publication says.
The barricades are preventing those wanting to hail taxis or waiting for buses from standing safely in designated areas and forcing them to stand on the road, and many pedestrians have had to negotiate their way though the barricades by finding an opening between them. The publication added that in a five-hour walkabout a couple of days ago, it observed that pedestrians were forced to walk on the road in some areas.
Meanwhile, GT Global Race says it will be cooperating with DBKL, the police, Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia and its own security team to ensure that the event runs smoothly.
The three-day event will see drivers racing on a 3.2 km-long, 16-turn temporary Grade 3 circuit, and the recently resurfaced roads used for the track will be closed from 6 pm on August 6 to 5 am on August 10.
The event will see various races such as the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Cup, Formula Masters, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and Audi R8 LMS Cup as well as an exhibition run of the Australian V8 Supercar race series.
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