MUSC SIC Sepang Drag Cars Test & Tune in SOP fail
ORGANISERS of MUSC SIC Sepang Drag Cars Test & Tune — the first local motorsports event to allow spectators since the coronavirus struck — have been slapped with an RM20,000 compound for failing to comply with Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Event organisers MUSC Motorsports admitted that they had failed to adequately control the 2,000 fans allowed into the Sepang Circuit for the event on Friday.
MUSC Motorsports, in a statement yesterday, apologised for the incident and vowed to work on their weaknesses.
The event was intended to serve as a test session (practice) for drag racers with plans to organise actual races later this year.
“Despite facing the risk of noncompliance to new norms, one of the reasons we wanted to go ahead with the event was to help revive the motorsports sector, which has been badly affected by Covid-19,” said MUSC.
“Our failure to control social distancing aspects resulted in a number of stoppages to the event, and eventually, we had to accept that we have been fined.
“We apologise to all parties involved and do not blame anyone be it the enforcement agencies, venue provider Sepang International Circuit (SIC), programme partners nor the followers of MUSC drag racing.”
SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif assured that such incidents will not happen again at the track.
“SIC had issued SOPs for local motorsports events and track days with spectators for the duration of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO),” said Shafriman.
“MUSC Motorsports had rented the track, and it was their responsibility to ensure that SOPs were followed by the spectators, competitors and team personnel.
“SIC worked together with the police to disperse the spectators.
“Compounds were also issued to those (individuals) who did not adhere to the SOPs. SIC will ensure that incidents such as this do not reoccur in the future.”
Only 2,000 spectators or 10 per cent of venue capacity, whichever is lower, is allowed for events during CMCO.