A total of 103,000 fans attended Sunday’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix race at the Sepang International Circuit. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 261,000 spectators attended the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix race weekend at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), setting a new attendance record for the circuit.

The three-day crowd surpassed the previous Malaysian Grand Prix record of 126,690 spectators recorded at the 2008 Malaysian GP, with 103,000 fans attending Sunday’s race alone.

In a statement, SIC said the figure was confirmed by Bahrain International Circuit chief executive Sheikh Salman Isa Al Khalifa.

Sheikh Salman said the F1 platform provided an opportunity to showcase Bahrain’s culture and hospitality to fans across the region at the Malaysian venue.