KUALA LUMPUR — Sepang International Circuit’s (SIC) post Formula One (F1) survival has been shaped less by the loss of global spectacle than by the strength of its utilisation-driven business model, anchored by high-frequency track usage and recurring commercial activities.

While F1 once defined the circuit’s international profile, daily track utilisation — primarily track days, corporate bookings and manufacturer-led activities — has long formed the backbone of SIC’s financial sustainability.

Former SIC chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Razlan Razali said recurring usage, rather than marquee events, underpins the circuit’s operating model.

“In terms of daily track revenue, track days are our primary source of revenue. F1 and MotoGP were major revenue generators at the time, but for daily sustainability, track days are the priority.

Razlan said track utilisation levels were already high before the Covid-19 pandemic, with close to 90 per cent of available days typically booked, driven mainly by private corporations, car and motorcycle clubs, manufacturers and professional event organisers.

This high-frequency model, though less visible than race weekends, ensures consistent cash flow, year-round activity and the participation of a broader motorsport value chain, involving suppliers, manufacturers and service providers.