The Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival (TGR) concluded its third round here at Stadium Batu Kawan, Penang, where the Vios Challenge race series presented one heck of an action-packed racing all weekend long in all three classes taking part. Here’s the race report for those who are following the series before they head into the final round later this year at Sepang International Circuit. (more…)
The Toyota Vios Challenge, part of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) that is now in its third season, has drawn newcomers to motor racing, achieving one of its objectives. The newcomers include mechanical engineering undergraduate Mirza Syahmi Mahzan who joins the series for the first time this season. Participating in the racing series provides valuable hands-on experience and exposure and is therefore making the most of this opportunity to develop his racecraft, both as a driver and a profession.
“On the track, it teaches me how to control a vehicle develop my driving skills. Off track, I learn more about setting-up a vehicle and this is line with the field that I am studying. I hope to be able apply what I learn in college in racing and hopefully turn this into a career. And the only way to do this is both seat time in the car and getting my hands dirty working on the car,” said Mirza Syahmi, who is 23 years old.
From gymkhanas to circuit racing
An automotive and motorsports enthusiast, his interest began with competing in gymkhana events using his daily car before venturing into circuit racing in 2017. In his first season of the Toyota Vios Challenge (which is now in its third season), Mirza Syahmi’s best performance has been scoring two pole positions and finishing sixth. He was on pole position for this weekend’s Round 3 at Batu Kawan Stadium in Penang and had led for 5 laps into the race when a broken driveshaft robbed him of what could have been a maiden victory.
“That’s part and parcel of racing. I must admit, however, that I was caught by surprise during the first race of the Toyota Vios Challenge in Kuala Terengganu. Competing on a permanent circuit is totally different from driving on a street circuit and honestly, I was caught off guard because a slight mistake or a slight understeer will send you into the concrete barrier,” he explained.
“The Sporting class that I am competing in is also super competitive with a combination of so many accomplished as well as new drivers. I love the atmosphere both on and off the track; we learn a lot from one another and we also exchange notes on setting-up the cars because there are no other parameters that you do so as everyone runs identical vehicles,” he said.
Level playing field for all
Meanwhile, his father, Mahzan Abdul Manan, said the decision to participate in the Toyota Vios Challenge was to enable his son to hone his racecraft and driving skills on a level playing field. “Unlike other local series being organized which emphasizes purely on vehicle performance, the Toyota Vios Challenge ensures that all competitors compete in identical vehicles. This not only makes the competition fair, but it also prevents teams with bigger budgets from having an edge over privateers,” he noted.
He added that the Toyota Vios Challenge also provided him with the opportunity to promote his own sunroof installation and repair business via branding on the car. “It’s an incredibly exciting event that attracts so much of interest, publicity and spectators, and for small businesses like mine, a perfect platform to gain valuable exposure for the products and services we offer,” he said.
Since mid-December, thousands of competitors all over the world have been racing against each other in qualifying rounds for the 2020 Porsche Esports Supercup in the so-called ‘Porsche iRacing Cup’. Their duels have taken place on different virtual racetracks that are replicas of real ones.
To date, over 4,900 sim racers have already taken part in the qualifying rounds – twice as many participants compared to the year before. The qualification concludes on March 2, with the top 20 qualifiers gaining entry to contest the Porsche Esports Supercup.
At present, the Red Bull’s Formula 1 driver and avid sim racer Max Verstappen is competing, currently ranking 20th (as at February 10, 2020). The illustrious grid line-up will be enhanced by the 20 top sim racers from last season who automatically qualify for the 2020 races.
iRating system used
During the qualification, a rating system created by iRacing ensures that the level of performance is evenly-matched. The individual numeric value of the iRating system gives an idea of the general skill and success of each driver. The key to achieving the highest possible numeric value is, for example, flawless driving and the corresponding result. Moreover, the points gained at the end of the qualifying rounds determine the performance level in relation to the entire starting grid.
Last year, a total of 2,372 e-drivers attempted to qualify for the Porsche Esports Supercup. For the 2020 season, the defending champion Joshua Rogers (Australia) and his hottest rivals Max Benecke (Germany), Sebastian Job (Great Britain) and Mitchell deJong (USA) return as the favourites. In 2019, they clinched the first four places in the championship.
10 online races from March to September
40 of the world’s best sim racers will compete against each other in 10 online races in a virtual Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Most of these races take place parallel to the real championship rounds of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which are held as support to the European Formula 1 events.
The first championship sim race takes off on May 2 on the virtual version of the Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands (perhaps Dutchman Verstappen will have an advantage?). Simultaneously, the actual Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will contest its first round at the same venue. On September 19, Italy’s Circuit Monza plays host to the final round of the 2020 Esports Supercup.
Visit www.porsche.com.my for information on new and pre-owned Porsche models in Malaysia.
Many Malaysians who follow social media will not have missed the shocking video of a small child being ejected from a car onto a busy highway – very fortunately not being run over although the possibility was very high. The public was quick to condemn the driver for not having the child restrained in a childseat – in spite of the law already making it compulsory since January 2020.
At the same time, there are still those who say it is costly for them to buy childseats, especially if they have many children. This issue is understandable although the life of a child must be given a high priority. Companies like BMW Group Malaysia have offered childseats at a subsidized price to qualified families and there’s a call for more companies in the private sector to help.
TAU Trading Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of TAU Corporation Japan, has responded to that call by offering sponsorship to help lower income families get a subsidy for buying a crash-tested safety-approved child safety seat (or child restraint system, CRS). A mock cheque was presented by TAU Corporation Japan’s CEO, Akitaka Miyamoto, to Jchanet Tan, Director of Child Passenger Safety Malaysia (CPSM), an organization dedicated to child traffic safety.
As a start, the sponsorship amount of RM6,400 will be used for a contest where participants have to answer a question and complete a slogan before submitting their answers. It is one approach to further increase understanding on the needs of using CRS for children in moving vehicles. Winners will be presented with cash vouchers valued at RM100 that can be used at any of the retail outlets or brands collaborating with CPSM. The program runs until February 29, 2020.
“It is our hope that once a program like this is launched, more corporations will be called to action and consider participating or supporting our Road Safety Campaigns. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. We can all make a difference if we put our hearts and head together,” said Ms Tan.
Ms Tan noted that there are many in the lower income group who care about the safety of their children but lack the knowledge and capability to do something about it as many of them are struggling financially to provide for their family. “We understand that having a child safety seat will mean an extra expenditure, even for that 1-time cost for 6 years of protection and peace of mind,” she said.
The current CRS regulation came into effect on January 1, 2020 and makes it compulsory for children below 135 cm or less than 12 years old to be properly harnessed in a CRS in private vehicles. CPSM has been a strong advocate of CRS as far back as 2016 but due to lack of funding, its initiatives were limited. Support from both the government and private sectors will enable them to do more.
TAU Corporation, established in 1996, is the leader in damaged car business in japan. The company buys vehicles damaged by accidents, wind, or floods in Japan and sells them to customers in more than 110 countries worldwide. Their vision is that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Together with this initiative, they hope that children in Malaysia can travel safer in a crashworthy safety seat driven in a safe car by their caregivers.
For more information, visit the Child Passenger Safety Malaysia Facebook Page.
Round 3 of the TGR Festival (Toyota Gazoo Racing) is currently taking place all weekend long (15-16 February 2020) at Stadium Batu Kawan, Penang and if you’ve made plans already, cancel them and head over here right now. Why? Here are our top reasons why you should go to the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival Round 3. (more…)
Sibling camaraderie, not rivalry, is what strengthens the bond between the Anthony brothers Bradley Benedict and Brendan Paul who are competing in the Toyota Vios Challenge street racing series, part of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival that is on in Batu Kwan, Penang, this weekend.
For 18-year old Bradley, this is his debut season competing in saloon cars after moving up from karting while 23-year old Brendan holds the distinction of being Toyota Vios Challenge Sporting Class champion in Season 1 and now competes in the Super Sporting Class for professional drivers. “I used to go to the track a lot to watch my brother compete in karting. I guess that was where the interest started,” said Bradley who ventured into karting in 2016. Last year, he emerged third in the Asian Rotax Max Championship (DD2 class).
Despite making a cautious start in Round 1 of the Toyota Vios Challenge, Bradley was quick to adapt and rose into the top three by Round 2. “I wasn’t as fast in the first round but I gained a lot of experience. I don’t find racing on a street circuit intimidating. In fact, I find it very enjoyable. It’s a solid learning ground for new and young drivers because unlike racing on a permanent circuit, you have to be precise and know how to control the car.”
And is it intimidating at all to have elder brother Brendan competing in the same event? “At the moment, no since we’re competing in different classes. Brendan helps me a lot with the technical tips and I try to get as much information from him as I can,” he replied.
“My being in the Toyota Vios Challenge is also due to a family decision. My dad saw how the event helped to elevate Brendan’s racing and he now wants me to follow the identical path my brother takes. That means also competing in events such as the Malaysian Championship Series, MSF and events like the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race,” Bradley explained. With 8 races in the Toyota Vios Challenge, 12 races in the MCS and another 12 races in the MSF, that means no less than 32 weekends of racing for Bradley throughout the year.
“My aspiration is to race in the touring car series in Europe, which is why I chose to compete in the Toyota Vios Challenge as opposed to choosing a path driving Formula cars when I moved up from karting” Bradley said.
The Toyota Vios Challenge – now in its third season – has been successful in attracting young drivers. It provides them with an affordable and competitive platform to hone their racecraft and technical experience. This should help build up motorsports talent from grassroots level in the country.
Click here for more information on the Toyota Vios Challenge and Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival.
