Malaysia to Drop F1 Races After 2018

Malaysia, citing flagging ticket sales, says it will stop hosting Formula One racing at its Sepang International Circuit after the 2018 season.

The country has spent about 300 million ringgit ($68.5 million) per year on the event since it began staging F1 races in Sepang in 1999, according to tourism minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

On Sunday F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone told Auto Motor und Sport that Singapore, whose race is held only 300 km (185 miles) away, also wants to drop off the schedule because of sagging interest among racing fans. Singapore began holding its signature night races on public streets around its Marina Bay Street circuit in 2008.