Malaysia’s Grand Prix chief yesterday voiced interest in hosting a night race at the Sepang circuit, saying it would help reverse declining audiences for the F1 event.

“I think a night race will be interesting. The F1 race at night will be cooler,” Sepang International Circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir said.

In 2008, Mokhzani ruled out a night race because of the heavy cost of lighting the circuit.

Malaysia will host the second leg of this year’s Formula One calendar on April 10 after the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for March 13 was cancelled due to deadly political unrest in the Gulf state.

Last month, Razlan Razali, chief executive of the Sepang International Circuit, said steamy tropical temperatures have caused ticket sales to plunge for Malaysia’s event.

Sepang should stage a night race before its rights to host F1 expire in 2015, Razlan said.

The Malaysian GP has also been outshone by neighbouring Singapore, which offers an action-packed night racing on a street circuit.

The 13-year-old Sepang event which has a daily capacity of 130,000 has failed to pull in the crowds.

Last year just 97,000 people were drawn to the circuit over three days. In 2009, there were 126,000.