Grab pit-stops at Sepang to get F1 racegoers home

Grab Malaysia had set up on-ground operations at Sepang International Circuit (SIC), including free shuttles, shaded waiting zones and a new queue-management feature, to ease the exit for thousands of racegoers at the close of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix race weekend that happened 2 to 4 October.

The timely measure came as the racing event shattered historical attendance and ticket sales benchmarks, with 261,000 spectators reportedly filling the venue across the three-day event, Bernama reported.

The ride-hailing platform had based its operations at the circuit's Long Term Car Park (LTCP), working with organisers and authorities in line with the venue's traffic management plan. Grab had also run a free shuttle service between SIC and LTCP.

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Grab teams were stationed at both LTCP and SIC to guide driver-partners, assist waiting passengers and load vehicles. With racegoers braving the heat, the company also set up shaded waiting zones with cooling fans and complimentary drinking water.

Racegoers were invited to follow the on-ground signage to the designated Grab pick-up and drop-off point at LTCP, marked by Grab beach flags and tents. After the race, they could book their ride once their shuttle bus arrived at LTCP, where driver-partners were reportedly on standby.

To keep queues moving, Grab also introduced Grab PIN&RIDE, a queue-management system that organises passenger queues and matches users with available drivers. It had also worked with event organisers to set up designated pick-up and drop-off lanes to reduce congestion.

Behind the scenes, Grab's operations teams used GrabMaps to track traffic flow and anticipate demand surges, as multiple events take place over the weekend. The company also reported that they offered incentives to driver-partners serving racegoers.

Grab said it adjusted its operations in real time based on passenger feedback on the pick-up point setups, signage and on-ground team. Grab users also received emails from Grab with tips and insights on how to get to Sepang safely and home. 

The event had gotten a rough start to the weekend for transport around the circuit. Long shuttle queues and gridlocked roads left spectators waiting hours after Friday's practice. One fan, comedian and emcee Gajen Nad, shared that he walked nearly 10km from the circuit to Mitsui Outlet Park after the second practice session, having judged the trek faster than the shuttle queue. 

Some also added that the KLIA rail station took three hours instead of the usual 20 minutes, while others said thousands were still waiting for buses after 8pm. 

In a release, Grab said the convenience and safety of its passengers and driver-partners had remained its priority, and it worked with event organisers and local authorities continually to support reliable transit for racegoers.

The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix had been relocated from Bahrain due to ongoing challenges in the Middle East. At the same time, it also marks Formula 1's first return to Sepang since 2017. Given it was a long-awaited return and it being a rare occasion for Malaysian motorsport fans, the unusually high attendance likely contributed to the traffic and logistic issues. 

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