F3000 Putrajaya Lake…WHAT a venue!
WHAT A VENUE! This place was carved out of the rainforest with power boat racing in mind! The Malaysian Government has gone to great lengths to build a brand new federal capital. Putrajaya is where all the major government departments are located, the whole city is brand new. The roads are wide, some of the buildings are beautiful and others over styled, but generally it is really impressive. So to is the new Parliament House which stands prominent on a hill overlooking the lake.
Water sports facilities here are, hard to beat. There’s a rowong club at one end of the lake and the other has the Maritime Club. Here you’ll find the 5 Star Pullman Hotel that is just a 3 minute walk to the Maritime Club. Also in the immediate vicinity is an Amphitheatre, water soprts stadium, water polo pool, a wake board and water ski set up with 2 Mastercraft boats and a little bit around the corner, the Maritime Club. At the moment not all buildings are fully utilised so it is nice and quiet.
The Maritim Club houses a very nice restaurant as well as the garage for the Formula Future program where young Malaysians are being trained to race power boats. It looks like the Formula 3000 power boats will soon be housed in here as well and that will be a major break through for Fernandez Team Racing.
“This is like a dream come true” said Robert Fernandez, the guru of speed in Malaysia and the man who has kept the F3000 dream alive. “Datuk Yahya has been instrumental in getting the F3000′s onto the Lake even for just the Putrajaya Test Day. What we want to achieve is a permanent base so that we can start to nurture Malaysian talent to groom them for bigger pursuits like the F1 power boat. Malaysia has been represented at the F1 level but it would be nice to see more youngsters coming through the pipeline.”
Putrajaya looks purpose built for Tunnel Hull racing, full facilities mean that training to any level can be conducted on any day of the week throughout the year. The waters are flat and the only real natural hazard is the occasional passing afternoon thunderstorm. Surrounding the lake are nice housing developments and it looks like new upper market apartments are being built around the Lake. It’s quiet now but in the years to come it will pick up.
Putrajaya is about 25 minutes from the Kuala Lumpur City and the same from KLIA. Once the boats are based in the garages of the Maritime Club, overseas enthusiasts will be able to fly into KL, do a weekends racing or training and then fly out again. The Pullman Hotel is a fine place to stay with very comfortable rooms at very favourable rates. Whilst I can’t see people flying to Putrajaya for a holiday, I can see them flying in to take part in some Formula action. For the ladies, the Pullman’s room feature a jacuzzi and shopping is good in KL itself. Guys, just go to the Maritime Club and go racing!
A short course was set up for the test day where the longest straight was 680m but there’s a lot more room on the Lake for much longer straights as well as more interesting boomerang shaped courses that would lead the boats into the bay immediately in front of the stadium – AWESOME!
The Putrajaya F3000 Test Day went very well. Guest of Honour, Datuk Yahya showed that he is handy with the Formula 3000 and won the exhibition race in the afternoon following familiarisation sessions in the morning! A background in motor racing certainly helps. A feast of a lunch was held in the Maritime Club’s restaurant with great food in a very nice atmosphere over looking the Lake… ahh does it get any better!
Yes it does! The wailing sound of 2-stroke engines is something to behold and I’m sure all the Parliamentarians enjoyed watching the show from the hill top as well. It certainly looks like Putrajaya is finally getting some life into her core. The Lake is beautifully laid out and the bridges are a stunning collection.
Overall, this is probably the best water sports venue that I have seen and its crowning jewelry will be a permanent home for F3000 racing enthusiasts.
Have a look at the video clip,
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