Malaysia add test session

The Formula One roadshow is to conduct a rare 'fly away' test session at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia in March.

The three-day event will take place from March 27-29 to help plug the three-week gap between the opening grand prix in Australia on March 18 and the second race in Malaysia on April 8.

The session also saves the Formula One teams a considerable amount of expense in returning to Europe between races.

A Sepang spokesperson confirmed: "It is further recognition of our efforts to make the circuit in Sepang a hub of motorsports in Asia.

"Almost all the F1 teams are based in Europe and it makes sense for them to commit their personnel to test the cars in Sepang instead of flying them back to the other side of the globe."

Two test sessions are also planned in Bahrain prior to the start of the new season, running from February 22-24 and February 27-28.