The virtual world met the real thing when Sime Darby Auto Performance, the official representative of Porsche in Malaysia, gave podium winners of the Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge Malaysia 2025 a taste of life behind the wheel of real cars. The event took place at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, where the country’s best Esports racers traded their simulators for Cayennes, 911s, and even all-electric Porsches.
For Porsche, motorsport is more than a sport — it’s a defining part of the brand’s DNA. The company has long viewed simulation racing as an important step in driver development, and now, Esports is opening the door for a new generation of talent.
Through the Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge Malaysia, young racers get a genuine platform to test their passion and possibly take their first steps into real-world competition. The goal, Porsche Malaysia explained, is not just to deliver a fun experience but also to spark ambition, whether in the simulator or on the track itself.
The day began with exercises designed to show how virtual skills can translate into physical control. In the Porsche Cayenne, winners tackled slalom runs and discovered just how agile the SUV could be with its Porsche Active Suspension Management system keeping it planted through tight cone formations.
Then came the acceleration and braking challenge in the 911 Carrera. With Launch Control engaged, the car leapt from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds, its 290 kW (394 PS) and 450 Nm of torque giving participants a taste of Porsche performance. Precision braking drills reminded everyone just how responsive the car could be, demonstrating the balance between explosive power and control.
Things wrapped up with guided laps of Sepang in the brand’s electric stars — the new Macan EV and the Taycan. With instructors in the passenger seat, winners had the chance to put their simulator-honed reflexes into action around the iconic corners of Malaysia’s most famous circuit.
If that wasn’t enough adrenaline, the highlight came in the form of passenger laps. Participants aged 18 and over were strapped into the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, driven by Sime Motors Racing driver Hugo Ellis, for a proper racing-car experience. Younger winners weren’t left out either, enjoying hot laps in the 911 Carrera with none other than Earl Bamber, a two-time Le Mans champion. Any nerves disappeared the moment the engines fired, replaced quickly with wide-eyed excitement and ear-to-ear grins.
One standout moment came with the talent assessment of Naquib Azlan, the winner of the Driven Dreamers category for racers aged 18 to 25. With experience in both sim racing and competitive events, Naquib was given the chance to step into a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for a proper test. The exercise showed just how closely virtual training and real-world motorsport can complement each other, marking an important step in his racing journey.
The event at Sepang was more than just a fun day out. It was a glimpse into how Esports is reshaping the motorsport landscape, bringing fresh faces into the fold and proving that skills developed in front of a screen can one day hold their own on track.
