Apr.5 (GMM) Some improvements to the ageing Sepang circuit will be ready ahead of the 2011 Malaysian grand prix.

The track's boss Razlan Razali admitted last week that the Hermann Tilke-designed venue has not had any significant upgrades since it first hosted formula one in 1999.

As long as three years ago, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone described Sepang as "shabby", and Razali admitted that he would like to spend $60 million on bringing the track up to the standard of Bahrain and Shanghai.

Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Rarak was at Sunday's race, and given a garage tour of the new Malaysian-owned Lotus team by Ecclestone.

Track chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir then said Sepang is planning to build a new support paddock, new hospitality suites, and fix the leaking roof of the main grandstand.

"We have promised FIA that we will have those facilities ready so it will be more comfortable for the teams, participants and spectators," he is quoted as saying by the local Star newspaper.

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