KUALA LUMPUR – The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) management has clarified that the go-kart track in Puchong where a 21-year-old man suffered severe head injuries is not under its ownership, management or regulatory oversight.
SIC Head of Motorsport Development Ilyas Rabani said the incident occurred at RUD Go-Kart Puchong, an independently operated recreational karting facility that has no operational link to SIC, despite public confusion over RUD's separate karting venue located within the Sepang circuit compound.
"To my knowledge, this incident occurred at RUD Go-Kart Puchong, and SIC neither owns nor controls that facility. The venue does not fall under our jurisdiction, management or operational oversight.
"Any matters relating to the operation of the track, including safety measures and incident handling, are the responsibility of the track operator and the relevant local authority," he told Scoop.
The victim, who was taking part in a recreational gokart session with a group of 13 youths, was involved in the freak accident at about 2.37am while on the circuit.
Witnesses say his long hair was not secured and got caught in one of the wheels.
A family member said the crash left the victim with serious head trauma. Witnesses claimed his helmet was torn off during the impact and was seen rolling across the track.
As a result of the crash the victim’s scalp was torn from his head during impact, a severe injury which required emergency surgery.
Ilyas said the misunderstanding likely arose because online searches for "RUD Karting" often direct users to the operator's Sepang facility.
"I believe many people are linking SIC to this incident because they simply search online. The Sepang facility appears prominently in search results, and the public may not realise there are two separate operations.
"That is why it is important to clarify that the incident did not occur at SIC. It happened in Puchong, and the operation there is entirely separate from us," he said.
Although RUD also operates a karting track within the SIC compound, Ilyas stressed that it functions independently.
"Yes, RUD Karting Sepang is located within the SIC compound. However, it remains an independently managed operation under its own jurisdiction.
"Our role as the owner of the compound is to ensure that the karting facility operating within our premises complies with Motorsport Association of Malaysia (MAM) regulations. That responsibility applies only to the Sepang facility," he said.
Ilyas also disclosed that the Puchong circuit is not homologated by MAM.
"There are many circuit grids and fun kart tracks operating across Malaysia, but only a handful are homologated or licensed for competition-level motorsport. In this case, the RUD track in Puchong is not homologated by MAM and is intended solely for recreational karting," he said.
He explained that homologation is a critical requirement for sanctioned motorsport events as it ensures a circuit meets prescribed safety standards.
"If a track is not homologated, the safety measures required for sanctioned motorsport competition are not necessarily in place. Should an incident occur, responsibility lies with the operator and the relevant local authority," he said.
By comparison, Ilyas said the karting circuit within SIC is fully homologated and equipped with the necessary safety infrastructure.
"The SIC karting track complies with MAM regulations and has appropriate safety barriers, medical support and other required safety measures. A fun kart track is different, as it is a recreational facility where members of the public pay to drive," he said.
Scoop previously reported that the 21-year-old man suffered severe head injuries during a recreational go-kart session at the Puchong circuit in the early hours of July 11.
He later underwent emergency surgery, prompting questions over safety procedures and emergency preparedness at the facility.
The circuit operator has been contacted for comment. - July 13, 2026
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