Last year, UMW Toyota Motor was the first Malaysian car company to be associated with the fast-growing Esports racing when it ran the inaugural TOYOTA GAZOO RACING (TGR) VELOCITY ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP. With the extremely strong response, the company has decided to run a second season this year which will take place between August 31 and September 15.
“We are very delighted with the overwhelming response from the public towards our very first TOYOTA GAZOO RACING Velocity Esports Championship last year, which was one of the largest Esports event in the country. We are confident that it will be more challenging this year, as more talented drivers would want to compete in the competition,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.
“Esports is a rapidly rising industry in Malaysia, as well as regionally and globally. It provides thrills and excitement of racing experience for the younger generation and Toyota’s involvement in this activity complements the dynamic and sporty side of the brand through the Toyota GAZOO Racing banner,” he added.
The high-performance activities of Toyota include the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival (TGR Festival) which takes place 4 times a year at various locations around the country and enters its third season in 2019. Besides the TGR Festival and the Esports Championship, UMWT’s effort to establish a stronger presence in Malaysian motorsports will include the introduction of the GR Supra and GR Garage.
Two phases in championship
The TOYOTA GAZOO RACING (TGR) VELOCITY ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP is open to all Malaysians aged 18 and above. All participants will first go through a time-trial phase at Cove Esports in Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor on August 31/September 1 and September 14/15. The top 40 racers with the fastest lap times will then be eligible to enter the Grand Final event.
The Grand Final will be held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur (Centre Court) on September 21/22 from 10 am to 9 pm. From the top 40 qualifiers who will challenge each other in the final round of races, one will be crowned as the Champion for 2019. This year, winners will share a bigger pool of prize money which totals RM70,000.
The car: 2019 Toyota GR Supra
All participants will use the latest 2019 Toyota GR Supra, Toyota’s flagship sportscar developed not only for real motorsports but also for Gran Turismo Esport. This year, they will be racing around the Fuji Speedway in Japan, the famous 1.475-km long circuit with one of the longest straights in the world. The top 10 finalists will be competing head to head in a 10-lap race on a best-of-three tracks which are the Kyoto Driving Park, Suzuka Circuit as well as the Fuji Speedway.
Thrustmaster will supply its T-GT ultimate racing simulators. The racers will benefit from unique new technologies which allow them to experience the superior driving dynamics of the GR Supra and drive to the limits.
For information on the TOYOTA GAZOO RACING VELOCITY ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP and registration for participation, members of the public can visit ToyotaVelocity.com .
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