Beyond The Podium: MotoGP Charity Auction Channels Rp72.5 Million To NTB Social Programs

Friday, 19 December 2025

    Share:
Author: Kaif Sarfaraz
Proceeds from the "Driven to Give" charity auction at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2025 are being directed to accelerate stunting prevention and local community empowerment programs in West Nusa Tenggara. (Dok. itdc)

Central Lombok – The roar of MotoGP engines at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit has faded, but a quieter, more enduring legacy for West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is just beginning. Following the record-breaking event that drew over 140,000 spectators and generated an estimated economic impact of up to Rp4.8 trillion, a charitable initiative is ensuring the race's benefits reach deeper into local communities. The "Driven to Give" charity auction, organized by the State Assets and Auction Services Office (KPKNL) Mataram, has successfully raised Rp72,523,800 to fund critical social programs in the region.

In a symbolic handover ceremony at the ITDC office in The Mandalika on Monday, December 15, the funds were officially entrusted to two key entities. The InJourney Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) will each administer Rp36,261,900 to translate the excitement of the international race into tangible social good. This move underscores a commitment to ensure mega-events deliver sustainable, real-world benefits beyond tourism and immediate economic stimulation.

ITDC will channel its portion of the funds into a Program for Accelerating Stunting Prevention. Stunting remains a priority national issue in Indonesia, and this initiative aligns the global spectacle of MotoGP with a pressing local health challenge. Agus Setiawan, Acting General Manager of The Mandalika, stated that ITDC is committed to ensuring every international event in the Special Economic Zone provides concrete and sustainable benefits for surrounding communities.

Read: Discover Mürren: Switzerland's Car-Free Alpine Village With World's Steepest Cable Car

Concurrently, MGPA will utilize its share to support a Community Empowerment Program around the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit. This focus aims to foster local skills, entrepreneurship, and long-term economic resilience for residents in the circuit's vicinity, ensuring they share in the development the event brings.

The charity auction model is now being eyed as a blueprint for future events. Rully Habibie, Acting Vice President Commercial of MGPA, expressed openness to expanding similar collaborations. He suggested that charity auctions have the potential to be developed as part of various motorsport event series, from local racing series to festivals, creating a recurring stream of social funding.

This philanthropic effort complements the event's staggering commercial success. The 2025 Pertamina Grand Prix was declared the most successful edition since its 2022 debut, with hotel occupancy in The Mandalika hitting 100% and airlines adding 44 extra flights to Lombok. The social programs funded by the auction add a vital dimension to this success, aiming to convert short-term economic spikes into long-term community well-being.

Officials hailed the collaboration as a model of synergy. Doni Prabudi, Head of KPKNL Mataram, emphasized that the fund distribution represents a spirit of mutual cooperation and trust in ITDC and MGPA as strategic partners close to the community. This partnership bridges government, state-owned enterprises, and event organizers in a shared social mission.

The initiative marks a significant step in evolving Indonesia's major international events from purely economic drivers into holistic development platforms. By directly linking a global sporting festival to targeted local interventions in health and community development, the stakeholders are crafting a legacy that aims to be as enduring as the international reputation the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia seeks to build.

(Kaif Sarfaraz)

    Share:
komentar