EXCLUSIVE: Johor may get second race track

A section of the newly completed test track at
Lotus HQ in Hethel

During a dinner with bloggers, Dato’ Izzaddin Idris, Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of UEM Group Berhad talked about their development plans for Nusajaya, the new high-tech township that is supposed to attract foreign investors and high-technology companies away from Singapore and into Johor.

In passing he mentioned that they are planning to build an auto city in Nusa Jaya and immediately I thought that the Group is being painfully cliched and boring.

Then Izaddin said that their autocity would have a special attraction to make it different, they would be a test track on site so you can test your sportscar or supercar or family sedan to your hear's content without the dealer worrying about police summons or insurance claims by other motorists.

Being a motoring hack, I saw an opportunity to make a case for Malaysian Motorsports and suggested that UEM shouldn't muck about building a silly test track and should instead build a proper FIA approved racing circuit.

It could be a compact circuit in the way of the Lotus test track facility in Hethel which is also FIA certified so it can be used to hold FIA-Sanctioned motorsport event. Think Ferrari cup, or Porsche cup or other one make series that do not need large facilities like Sepang.

Since they wanted to make the whole autocity area a bonded area then Singaporean and other foreigners could buy their favourite track car, keep it on site and come down on weekends to have a bit of fun.

That way UEM can collect rental, have their own first Motorsports-themed exclusive residential development and possibly a high-end motorsports development facility that will help to improve Malaysian motorsports as they service the rich clients' weekend outing.

Izaddin thought it was a good idea and said he would definitely look into it.

Don't hold your breath though. Right now it is just a plan for a test track but if our suggestion takes root and the numbers make sense then maybe Johor will get a second race track.
(Don't forget Izaddin is still an accountant who has to make money for his company)