PETALING JAYA, March 21 — He is one of the most recognisable faces in the business community. But for one weekend every year since 2003, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir ditches the suits and heads over to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for the Formula One race.

“I am a petrol head. I love cars,” said the SIC chairman.

“The Sepang circuit has given Malaysians the chance to get more involved in motorsports be it F1, go- karting or bikes. They can come to the track for Sunday drives or watch a race. It's gratifying.”

Mokhzani, who has been “chilling” since he resigned from the SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd board recently, will be at the track as usual next weekend for the 17th edition of the Formula One Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix.

He said he barely had a chance to catch the race when it was held in Malaysia as he would be busy ensuring guests were comfortable besides facilitating meetings.

“If I want to enjoy a race, I just go to another circuit,” he said.

“There is also the business aspect of F1 where people network. If I see a business opportunity that might interest a friend, I help to connect them.

“I have always kept myself in the background. I am not one to thump my chest saying, 'I'm the chairman of SIC'.”

Mokhzani said he developed friendship with a host of people, including the teams, drivers, royalty and celebrities through his involvement in F1.

“Last year, I met Benedict Cumberbatch and now both of us are shareholders in a production company,” he said.

 He declined to elaborate on the venture, saying it was “another story”.

Business dealings aside, one can detect the sense of pride in Mokhzani's voice when he talks about how having F1 in Malaysia had helped create generations who are more involved and aware of motorsports.

He cited the F1 in Schools programme and a recent visit to Garden International School in Kuala Lumpur where he met students who built model cars under strict guidelines.

“There was one kid who talked like he was an F1 aerodynamics engineer. He knew so much,” he said.

F1 has also given the chance for other races to be held at the circuit.

Mokhzani said the emergence of local racing teams had led to small workshops getting on the racing bandwagon.

“In the past, they were probably not disciplined when it came to managing teams but now they have become more professional,” he said.

“This adds value to their business.”

He said F1 has evolved in terms of technology, both for the teams and fans.

“TV coverage, for one, has changed since 1999. It is fully digital now and you have mobile apps that allow you to follow any car and watch the race from any angle,” he said.

 He said SIC's priority during race weekend was to ensure the safety and comfort of the F1 fraternity and fans.

Quieter engines allowed for other activities to continue during the race. “It's a more comfortable atmosphere.”

“It's about having a different experience at the track every year like bringing in different acts or having a carnival.”

He said having the race start at 3pm this year also meant there was more “daytime” for the public to enjoy various activities.

He also said ticket sales had increased following the announcement that K-Pop groups, Girls' Generation and SHINee would be the joint headline acts after original after-race act Lenny Kravitz cancelled his Asian tour.

Having been at the helm for the past 12 years, he said he enjoyed what he did at SIC and the team was doing a stellar job.

“There's always something different to handle. It's all about making sure people are happy and how we manage that,” he said.

“We may not succeed 100 per cent but 90 per cent of the time, people are happy.”