I've never been to a practice session on the Friday and I didn't intend to go this year, but when I read in the Star on Fri morning that there was free entry for Friday, I decided to go. Car parking was also free. However I decided to take the shuttle bus from KL Sentral, which was RM30.
The bus took quite a long route, using the N-S highway as far as the Nilai memorial park then turning off to KLIA. And as we approached Sepang the driver was phoning someone for directions. Even when we arrived he still took the wrong entrance to the car park!
I was surprised at how few people there were, although I know that Fri is never that busy. I managed to avoid the bag search and having my water bottles confiscated. That saved me having to buy water at RM5. Food is expensive at the F1, set meals of "fast food" are RM25, in the restaurant its about RM70.
I walked through the Tourism Malaysia pavilion which was advertising Visit Malaysia 2014. It was all rather pathetic with a tacky display of Mulu
and a Malacca trishaw, a racing car and a teddy bear sat on the floor!
The Petronas display celebrated their 15th anniversary of F1 cars -
As seating was free today, I was able to try out all the "posh" expensive seats. Could look across at the pit building and at the winners podium. I've only been here once before in 2004 when the area was opened to the public after a Sat session. I was surprised the pits didn't have the drivers names up, or maybe it was just too early in the weekend.
Looking towards K stand
It's good to see the stands are no smoking areas
The second practice session started dead on 2pm. I was surprised at the speed at which the cars came out of the bays. Here's the 2nd Red Bull -
The practice is underway.
In previous years when I've been to F1 we've sat on the open hill slopes and the noise is bearable with ear plugs. But this time in the stands (which are the expensive seats) the noise was horrendous as it was trapped by the building and also you are much closer to the track. Of course there are very expensive enclosed boxes which must be nice.
Ferrari going back in
Red Bull approaching the turn by the C hill slope
McLaren (above)
I then went to the grandstand.
I'm sure these photographers got far better results than I did with my little digital camera !!
Views from the grandstand -
After an hour the rain arrived so there was a break. A Sauber spun when going home and managed to get going again in front of Red Bull
The rain didn't last long and the cars were out again in less than 15 minutes. There was quite a lot of spray from the cars.
By now my ears were hurting so I made a move. Lesson learnt - if ever I go again, either take the really cheap hillslope in the hot sun, or if I'm in the expensive seats take proper quality head phones.
There is a helipad by the pit building
Final shots of a group of 5 cars
Going back was a bit of an epic. Firstly the first bus of the afternoon was full but luckily they allowed the next bus to leave when that was full. But the driver didn't know the route and missed the KL Sentral exit, and stayed on the Mex highway along Jln Tun Razak all the way into KL and then on along all the way around KL. Came to the Sentral turn and he missed it and went on towards Cheras then went wrong again before finally heading back to Sental. The journey took 1 hr 40 mins instead of 1 hour).
That evening my ears were sore, but thankfully were OK by the next morning.
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