VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

In addition to holding MotoGP in 2021, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that it would be even more efficient or better for country branding if Indonesia also had Formula One (F1) car racing, which is the world's leading car racing.

"He said that this F1 should be explored to be held in the context of Indonesian country branding and also in strengthening sports tourism brands in Indonesia in addition to MotoGP, and also Indonesia's efforts to host the Olympic Games in 2032," said Director of Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) Abdulbar Mansoer ended with the Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Erick Thohir received by President Jokowi, at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java (West Java), Wednesday (5/22) afternoon.

As the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK) manager, in Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), which will be the arena for the Street Race circuit for MotoGP 2021, IDC Managing Director Abdulbal Mansoer expressed his readiness to support the government's program.

"We will immediately follow up the President's direction to see the possibility that F1 can be held at the Mandalika Circuit," Abdulbar said.

According to the Director of ITDC, in the near future he will also coordinate with those who will work together on this matter in holding F1 racing. He hopes in the near future to be able to convey more things about the possibility of bringing F1 in Indonesia after MotoGP.

So far, continued Abdulbar, the government strongly supports the implementation of the MotoGP in Mandalika. In fact, continued Abdulbar, the President conveyed to the press also that the access road from the airport to Mandalika would be built by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), then there would be widening of the airport runway, as well as repairing the port for cruise. "So the support from the government is very clear," he said.

ITDC itself, according to Abdulbar, only built the circuit with its partner, Vinci. ITDC is the owner of the land and is now in the stage of completing homologation, continued Abdulbar, then the related parties will also complete the technical documents.

"So in October, Insya Allah, God willing, we will start building in a period of 12 months, the road will only run for 4.3 kilometers. And here we have also confirmed that it can be used for F1 too. For MotoGP we will start road construction in October 2019, "said Abdulbar.

Regarding the possibility of adjusting the circuit development specs from the motorbike arena to the F1 race arena, the Director of ITDC Abdulbas Mansoer stated, even though he only received this news a few days ago, his team immediately confirmed that the shape of the shape did not need to be changed.

"There is only treatment for topsoil and some signals or sensors that we have to add because the nature is somewhat different but it will not change significantly from the budget side or from the technical side of the road," said Abdulbar.

While KOI Chairman Erick Thohir considered, the track being built in Mandalika can also be used for car racing, and there is no waste for the F1 racing arena or other car racing vehicles.

In fact, according to Erick, there all parties also see this opportunity not only as an organizer but also how to be associated with future investment, tourism investment.

"We know that Indonesia is exploring not only halal tourism but also how to explore becoming a country that does not compete with neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia in selling sports tourism or culture," Erick said. (kemensetkab)