The GR Vios Challenge has been a very successful series which has contributed to the development of the Malaysian motorsports industry. Over the past 5 years, UMW Toyota Motor and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia pumped in a lot of money and incentives to make it a leading motorsports event. Incorporated in the TGR Racing Festival for most years (except when the pandemic prevented public gatherings), the series attracted more than 15 million spectators and viewers (both on-site and online via live streaming).
This year, the GR Vios Challenge will enter its sixth season and as in 2022, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia will also run the GR Vios Sprint Cup, GR Vios Enduro Cup and participate in the Sepang 100KM endurance race.
“Racing has had a very profound impact on the Toyota brand globally and domestically. Embarking on our 6th season of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival, we remain committed in our mission to make an impactful contribution to Malaysian motorsports,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Datuk Ravindran K.
“Toyota also firmly believes the Malaysian motorsports eco-system can evolve to become very dynamic. By eco-system, I mean the development of future talent and the creation of a more vibrant motorsports industry,” he added.
The 2023 calendar for TGR Malaysia will see 3 rounds (with a total of 6 races) of the GR Vios Challenge, with the opening round being held this weekend at Sepang International Circuit. The GR Vios Sprint Cup incorporated in the Malaysia Championship Series will have 2 rounds (4 races), and the running of the GR Vios Enduro Cup at the Sepang 1000km endurance race will be the season finale.
In the GR Vios Challenge, racing will again be divided into 4 classes: the Promotional Class for local celebrities; the Super Sporting Class for elite and professional drivers; the Sporting Class for amateur and gentlemen drivers; and the Rookie Class for young drivers. In total, there will be around 40 drivers taking part in the different classes.
RM70,000 and RM50,000 which will go to the overall champion of the Super Sporting and Sporting Class champions, respectively, making this one-make series the most lucrative motorsports event in the country for the last 5 years. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held in June and September, respectively.
For the GR Vios Sprint Cup, which is run independent of the Vios Challenge and run in May and June, a total of more than RM200,000 in prize monies is offered. As for the GR Vios Enduro Cup, there will up to RM30,000 in prize monies for the winning crews.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s participation in the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race will be the third time the for the outfit. Last year, Toyota raced to a historic 1-2 overall victory in the 9-hour race and will be looking to defend this title in 2023.
Season 6 will also see UMW Toyota Motor continuing with the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program which began in 2020. The program, designed to promote young drivers up the motorsports ladder, has so far produced 12 very talented young racers between the ages of 14 and 20. Most have come from a background in karting and simulator racing and made a successful transition into real-world racing in Toyota Vios sedans.
Notable among this group of rookies are Naquib Azlan and his brothers, Nabil and Nazmir. The latter is the third sibling to join the GR Vios Challenge and Rookie Class, following in the footsteps of his two elder brothers who have both been crowned the overall champion of the Rookie Class. Naquib then went on to also clinch the overall championship in the Sporting Class for amateur drivers in 2022 and will compete in the Super Sporting Class for professionals this season.
The TGR Racing Festival and GR Vios Challenge are open to the public this weekend (February 18/19) at the Sepang International Circuit. As before, there will also be stage performance by the celebrities. Entrance is free and if you cannot make it, the races and activities will be streamed live at www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.
