one-make race Archives

Day 2 Of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival/Vios Challenge Season 4/Round 1

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things in our lives but mankind has survived for so long by adapting to changes and moving on. This has been the case in motorsports, in Malaysia as well as in other countries; to continue to have such activities requires change, at least in the short-term. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival had to change for its fourth season this year, with the most significant difference from the past three seasons being that there could not be the huge crowds attending.

With this change, the organisers moved the action online with a livestream over two days to bring the action to fans not just around Malaysia but also globally as the internet is accessible from virtually anywhere on the planet. According to a GAZOO Racing Malaysia official, there were more than 2 million viewers online – certainly way bigger than any audience that a single round has had.

“On track especially, the suspense and quality of racing in the Vios Challenge has not diminished, in fact amplified even more, despite a one-year break. Brand affinity for GAZOO Racing has grown tremendously over three seasons of organizing what is today recognized as Malaysia’s premier motor-racing series, and I would like to thank all our GAZOO Racing fans and online viewers for their continued support, even in the absence of an on-ground festival,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Ravindran K.

“Looking ahead to the following rounds, we hope to bring spectators back to the festival and enhance our live broadcast reach in line with our mission to bring motorsports to the masses,” he added. “One of the biggest challenges has been to organize the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival while doing our utmost best to retain the same level of energy and excitement it has been known for over the past three seasons. Yes, there are many limitations considering we are now in the recovery stages of a post COVID-19 pandemic era, but we are nevertheless grateful that motorsports activities can continue despite stricter standard operating procedures.”

SUPER SPORTING CLASS
The drama and outcome in the Super Sporting Class was again a repeat of yesterday’s first race victory for Tengku Djan Ley who ended the race weekend with a double race win. Starting from sixth position on the grid, Tengku Djan again played a waiting game before mounting an 11th hour assault for the race win, finishing ahead of Season 2’s Super Sporting Class champion, Boy Wong, who returns to the podium after a long absence, and Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin who rounded up the top three positions.

The lead in the 20-lap race exchanged hands several times with Mark Darwin emerging the top contender in the opening laps of the race. His lead of almost 3 seconds however, evaporated when the Safety Car came out and at the restart, faced the onslaught of challenge from Boy and M7 Japan Project Team’s Syafiq Ali. Tengku Djan’s assault came in the 15th lap and he gradually extended his lead to 3.5 seconds by the time he took the chequered flag.

“In dry weather conditions, everyone was quick and I basically capitalized on the situation out on the track and made full use of it,” said Tengku Djan, well known for his drifting skills as well. “Racing is very much weather dependent, and there are so many variables at play such as the tyres. It’s a long 20-lap race and you have to be able to manage your tyres and car, knowing when to push and when to hold back. Maybe I just managed to do a better job of this.”

ROOKIE CLASS
Naquib Azlan showed that yesterday’s win was no fluke and that he has The Right Stuff. He was victorious again today ahead of Jwan Hii and Amer Harris who makes his second appearance on the podium.

The fight for the lead again exchanged hands several times during the 20-lap race with all three drivers, including Mika Hakimi in contention for victory. “At one moment, I was down to last position and I had to climb my way back up with a damaged car so I really didn’t know what to expect. I just kept my head down, kept my cool,” said 20-year-old Naquib who has actually driven thousands of laps at Sepang – on a simulator.

“Yesterday was really unpredictable with the wet race, and it boiled down to instinctive driving. What I never expected was the high degree of racecraft demonstrated by the Super Sporting Class drivers who were very aggressive, but it gave us a lot of knowledge going into further races in the season,” he said.

“Sim racing helps me prepare before coming to a racetrack and with experienced trainers and a data engineer helping us out in the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program, I have learnt more about my driving…I want to learn more and proceed further,” Naquib added.

For Jwan, the dry conditions were well-suited to his driving preference. “I’m more comfortable in the dry,” said the 18-year-old. “It’s been quite a journey for me coming from karts to saloon car racing. Personally, I feel that the simulator sessions have had a huge impact in terms of racecraft and consistency.”

SPORTING CLASS
Racing to only his second win in the Sporting Class since joining last season was Haji Sutan Mustaffa Salihin had a flawless start which kept him at the front for the 20-lap race. By the time the chequered flag appeared, he was a comfortable 4.4 seconds ahead of Eric Yong and Adam Khalid who finished second and third, respectively.

“I’m actually speechless because we struggled since the practice session on Friday to get the most ideal set-up for the car. And when we finally found a set-up we were comfortable with, the rain started and unfortunately, I had to race in the wet conditions, forcing me to make a strategic decision to play it safe and get the car to the finish to try for a better result for Race 2 with the reverse grid format that would see starting at the front of the starting grid,” said Haji Sutan.

“My strength has always been with my start and the ability to get a strong launch as we head into the first corner. I managed to do this as planned and from then onwards, it was a matter of being precise and consistent throughout the race,” he revealed.

Preparing for Season 4, Sutan made a conscious effort to enhance on fitness stamina and strength. “With the Movement Control Order, I weighed in at 80 kgs and that can be a big disadvantage for me, especially competing in a class with a lot of younger drivers. I told myself I needed to do something and I began exercising and controlling my diet. I managed to reduce my weight by 15 kgs, and that has been a huge motivational push for me,” said the 49-year old veteran racer.

PROMOTIONAL CLASS
The battle of celebrities in the Promotional Class saw actor-comedian Zizan Razak winning again, certainly impressive for a newcomer to the series. He finished the 18-lap race with an unassailable 8-second gap over second place winner singer Khai Bahar and fellow Vios Challenge newcomer TV presenter, Ahirene Ahirudin.

“I expected stiff competition from the very beginning, especially from the likes of Shukri Yahaya and Nabil Ahmad. I knew they were going to be fast because they have the experience of competing in previous seasons but what I can say is my experience so far has been exciting,” Zizan said.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival Season 4 Rd 1 — GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer, Akio Takeyama (left), with Zizan Razak and Shirene Ahirudin (right), the two newcomers who have made a very good impression in their debut races in the Promotional Class.

Commenting on his third season competing in the Vios Challenge, Nabil said his journey so far has indeed been a fulfilling one. “I’ve learnt a lot from my very first race when I tried to beat actress Diana Danielle [who is not among the participants this year]. Back then, I had a hard time controlling my ego which was to not lose to a lady driver. But racing has taught me that it is not all about winning but more importantly, the skill and commitment which helps you to evolve into a better racer,” Nabil explained.

“In the process, I believe we have all also learnt to become more patient drivers on the road,” he said Nabil after leading the race today but then dropping all the way back to 10th position after a racing incident involving Shukri.

*The range of high-performance Toyota GR models – GR Supra, GR Yaris and Yaris GR-Sport – led the racing cars of the Vios Challenge in a Drive of Honour around the Sepang International Circuit.*

The next rounds
After this weekend’s first round, the second Round will be held from July 16 – 18, also at the SIC, while the third and final rounds will be from September 24 – 26. The use of SIC is probably in case there are limitations to the number of spectators, or if the races must still only be run without spectators. By September, perhaps things will be better and a custom street circuit can be used, as with previous seasons. Each round has 2 races with individual round prize money, and with points being scored as a championship series.

Season 4 of the TGR Festival will also see the introduction of the GR Vios Sprint Cup and GR Enduro Cup (an endurance race). The former will consist of 2 rounds with 2 races each, and the latter will be run in conjunction with the annual Sepang 1000km Endurance Race. The 2 Sprint Cup rounds will be in March and May, while the Enduro Cup will be in November.

These additional events are independent of the Vios Challenge series and intended to provide drivers and teams with more racing activities to use their cars, and the opportunity to win additional prizes.

Both the Vios Sprint Cup and Enduro Cup will retain the format of a one-make race, and only cars used in the Vios Challenge will be eligible. The races, however, will only be run as one single open class and drivers competing in the Vios Challenge. Teams meanwhile, are also not confined to competing with their regular driver/s signed up in the Vios Challenge and are free to field new drivers for both events (but they must have the requisite competition licence).

Day 1 of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival/Vios Challenge Season 4/Round 1

UMW Toyota Motor starts GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program

When UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) started the Toyota Vios Challenge One-Make series, one of the aims was to bring new blood into the racing scene, especially at grassroots level. Now, after three successful seasons, the company is introducing the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program. This is aimed at identifying and nurturing young Malaysian racing talent transitioning from karting and sim-racing to saloon car racing.

“One of the principal achievements of the Toyota Vios Challenge has been its ability to not only attract young racers but giving them an equal opportunity to excel competing alongside more experienced racers,” said Akio Takeyama, GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, and Deputy Chairman of UMWT.

GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program — *The six recruits for the program with GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, A. Takeyama (right) and Ravindran K., President of UMWT (left)*.

Young newcomers joining racing series
“In three seasons of the Toyota Vios Challenge, we have noticed a stream of young drivers making their way into the series. Affordability and cost of participation has certainly played a significant part in this but its one-make race format has also provided young drivers as well as newcomers with a fair and level playing field in terms of racing as they compete against more experienced drivers. This and the combination of having to drive in a super competitive environment has resulted in an accelerated learning curve,” said Mr. Takeyama, who also participates in the series.

“The success of the series in nurturing young talent could not have been better validated than with the crowning of 16-year-old Hayden Haikal as the Sporting Class champion in Season 3 with another teenage driver, 18-year-old Bradley Benedict Anthony clinching second place overall in what was only his first year of saloon car racing, both of whom were karters making the transition up to saloon car racing,” he said.

Mr. Takeyama said the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program underlined Toyota’s continued investment and commitment towards the development of Malaysian motorsports.

*The racers will undergo intensive training at the GAZOO Racing School using the race-prepared Toyota Vios model.*

Transition from sim racing and karting
The programme, for those between the ages of 14 and 20, has identified 6 young racers, based on their karting and sim-racing accomplishments, overall performance and level of commitment. They will be coached before being provided with the opportunity to compete in Season 4 of the Toyota Vios Challenge series.

They are sim racers Mika Hakimi (17) and Naquib Azlan (20), and karters Amer Harris (17), Jwan Hii (18), Putera Adam (14) and Troy Eimann (16).

The racers will undergo intensive training both on and off the track under the close guidance of instructors at the GAZOO Racing School beginning this month. They must satisfy a number of criteria before being certified competent to race. As with all racing drivers, they must also fulfil all conditions for the issuance of a national competition license (for circuit racing) by Malaysia’s motorsports-governing body, the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM).

Toyota GR Velocity Championship — *UMWT has been supporting eSports with a championship series that is in its third season this year.*

*The Vios Challenge, which has completed three seasons, has seen a stream of young new racers coming into motorsport.*

Toyota’s growing presence in motorsports
GAZOO Racing and Toyota’s growing presence in Malaysian motorsports has collaboratively helped to develop both the sport and brand as more dynamic, vibrant, emotive and exhilarating entities.

“The commitment from the onset had been to establish an even bigger footprint in Malaysian motorsports and to be in the position to give Malaysian motorsports a further boost. In 3 seasons, we have been able to make an impactful difference by establishing a series that ran on purpose-built street tracks instead of at traditional racing circuits. That successfully attracted not only first-time competitors but also amateur and professional racers to the series. With Season 4, we intend to take this one step further by providing young racers with a gateway into the higher levels of motor racing,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

Season 3 of Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship to run throughout September

Overall winners of Toyota Vios Challenge Season 3 receive their prizes

With the last race of the third season cancelled due to restrictions of the Movement Control Order, the Toyota Vios Challenge came to an early end. As 75% of the 8-round event had been run, this fulfilled the criteria consistent with best practices of other international motorsport events and in adherence to provisions stated in the technical and sporting regulations of the event.

Most lucrative race series
The Vios Challenge, part of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival, has established itself as the most lucrative race series with more than half a million ringgit in total prize money so far. It is the only racing event in Malaysia to offer a challenging street circuit. While providing close competition for the experienced racers, it has also seen new blood coming into the sport.

TGR Toyota Vios Challenge Season — *One of the rounds of the third season of the TGR Toyota Vios Challenge.*

Open to individuals, teams and Toyota dealers, the playing field is levelled as only 1.5-litre Toyota Vios cars qualify. These were cars prepared for racing with identical specifications that participants purchased. They received only parts that slightly increased performance and of course, were fitted with the required safety equipment in accordance with international motorsport regulations.

The Vios Challenge was therefore not about who could make the car more powerful or handle better – usually at extra cost – to get an advantage. It was more about driver skill and because the cars had identical engine outputs, the racing was close, which is what spectators like to see.

“As a one-make series, the Toyota Vios Challenge is built on the foundation of providing competitors with a level playing field with emphasis on driving skills and experience. This series is not only engineered to make motor racing more affordable for individuals and teams, but to make the races very closely contested for the benefit of spectators,” said Akio Takeyama, Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer and also Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

“The 6 races held in Season 3 were no exception and, despite the Series being abruptly cut short [due to the pandemic], I would like to congratulate every single driver who demonstrated a high level of competitiveness, racing skills and sportsmanship,” he said.

The champions of the third season
For the third and final round, the total prize money of RM360,000 was presented to the overall champions of the event. Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel was the overall champion of the Super Sporting class for professional drivers – his second successive title – while 16-year-old Hayden Haikal – the youngest ever competitor in the series – was the overall champion in the Sporting class for amateur drivers. Each driver took RM100,000 for their fine performance.

Mark Darwin of Laser Motor Racing and Freddie Ang of Telagamas Toyota finished the series in second and third places, respectively, in the Super Sporting Class. Another teenager, 18-year-old Bradley Benedict Anthony, drove to an impressive debut in the series to finish ahead of third place winner Haji Sutan Mustaffa, both winning RM50,000 and RM30,000, respectively.

TGR Toyota Vios Challenge Season 3 — *16-year-old Hayden Haikal – the youngest ever competitor in the series – was overall champion in the Sporting class.*

In the Promotional Class for celebrity racers, musician and TV personality Shawn Lee had 3 wins over the season and was clearly the most dominant driver as he too secured his second ever overall championship in three seasons of competing. He finished ahead of actor Shukri Yahaya and TV personality Nabil Ahmad who came in third overall.

“Toyota GAZOO Racing, via the Toyota Vios Challenge, remains committed to underlining the company’s three key objectives: to contribute towards elevating Malaysian motorsports with the introduction of an affordable and competitive one-make series; bringing motorsports to the masses by pioneering the concept of racing on street circuits; and successfully demonstrating the performance, reliability and durability of its vehicle to perform under extreme conditions,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Ravindran K.

“We’ll be back…”
Mr. Takeyama added that TGR Malaysia is now planning for a fourth season, while watching the improving situation regarding the pandemic. “We will be back bigger than before,” he promised.

More online racing events coming from UMW Toyota Motor

Covid-19 — Fighting COVID-19 is our joint responsibility. Protect yourself and others: make these 6 simple precautions your new habits.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival/Vios Challenge to be held in Penang on February 15/16

The Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) heads to Penang next weekend (February 15/16) for the third round, again using the venue at Stadium Batu Kawan on the mainland side. Currently in its third season, the highlight of the event is the Toyota Vios Challenge one-make race series. Drivers in all three classes – Super Sporting, Sporting and Promotional class – aim to pick up as many points as possible before the final round at the Sepang International Circuit in April.

“Penang can essentially make or break a driver’s championship campaign this season. For some, it will be the last chance to capitalize on their experience competing on a street circuit and hopefully build an almost unassailable lead in the championship. For others, it will be about fighting to narrow the gap in order to keep their championship hopes alive, enough to cause an upset when the racing moves to a permanent circuit,” said Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama, who is also a participant.

TGR — *Close racing during the first round of the first season. The 1.56-km long street circuit is created specially for the event.*

In the Super Sporting class for professionals, Tengku Djan Ley – currently has the lead with 36 points, just 8 points ahead of Laser Motor’s Mark Darwin. Kenny Lee is just one point behind.

“It’s great to be leading the championship but with 4 more races in the season, I have to make sure I stay focused. We still have a long way to go, and the experience of competing in Season 1 and managing a team in Season 2 has taught me that the overall championship almost always comes down to the last two races of the season and I don’t foresee it being any different this time,” said Tengku Djan, also known as Malaysia’s ‘Prince of Drift’.

TGR — *FIA-approved barriers and fencing allow spectators to be close to the action without being in danger.*

Meanwhile, with 17 drivers on the grid, every single Sporting class race has been nothing short of a dogfight. Automotive journalist Tom Goh, driving for S&D Tama Motorsports, is at the top of the points standings with 28 points, just two points ahead of TGR debutante Haji Sutan Mustaffa Salihin. One point behind him is Crestmax Motorsport’s Adam Khalid followed by another TGR newcomer and young driver Bradley Benedict Anthony with 22 points.

Leading the Promotional class for celebrities is television presenter and comedian Nabil Ahmad who has a 4-point advantage over Season 1 overall champion Shawn Lee at 28 points, with singer Khai Bahar in third position. Diana Danielle; Janna Nick; Shukri Yahaya; Nabila Razali; Wany Hasrita; Ain Edruce; and Syafiq Kyle are the other celebrities who will take part in the rave which draws many of their fans from all over the country.

*The TGR Festival gives fans a chance to get close to their favourite celebrities who also take part in the Vios Challenge.*

Commenting on the TGR Festival, UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K., said: “The excitement of the TGR Festival is not confined to thrills and spills on the track but includes so many activities for the family. It will feature Toyota’s fleet of new vehicles which the public can view and test-drive.”

“There will also be a drift performance, racing simulator challenge, stage games, celebrity performances, promotional activities, lucky draws, the sale of merchandises, and a Super Fans Signing Session for a chance to mingle with the celebrities racing in the Promotional class. Also on display will be the flagship GR Supra!” he added.

For fitness fans, the TGR Festival will also feature a fun run on the 1.56-km track as well as a zumba fitness session on Sunday. Registration is free with goodies limited to the first 500 participants. Also on display will be a Super GT racing car in conjunction with the upcoming Malaysian round of the Super GT Championship at the Sepang International Circuit in July.

TGR — *Drift professionals from Japan thrill the crowds with their precise manoeuvres in Toyota GT86 sportscars.*

Other attractions include the display of a fully restored 1968 Toyota Corolla KE-10 model (one of the very first Toyota vehicles assembled in Malaysia), a retro display by the Art of Speed, and a showcase of motorcycles and merchandise by Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Vespa and Moto Guzzi. Children’s activities include a bey blade competition, the sale of Hot Wheels die-cast models, and a nerf gun competition.

Entrance is free and for those who want to be ‘chauffeur-driven’ to the venue, the organisers are offering subsidized rides with Grab. Use the promo code GRAB2TGR and you will save RM20 on the charge to and from Stadium Batu Kawan.

For more information and updates, visit the Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia website.

MOTORSPORTS – Day 2 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival & Toyota Vios Challenge Season 3/Round 2

MOTORSPORTS – Day 1: Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival & Vios Challenge Season 3, Rd. 2 (w/VIDEO)

One of the unique things about the Toyota Vios Challenge, part of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival that is now in its third season, is the fact that each track has been brand new and created just for the races (with the exception of the Sepang International Circuit used for the final round of Season 2). In fact, once the event is over, the track vanishes and the area reverts to what is usually a large carpark.

For the second round of Season 3, the uniqueness went up one notch as the location chosen was Bandar Malaysia, formerly an airbase of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) and before that, an international airport between 1952 and 1965, after which Subang airport replaced it. Motor vehicles would certainly have been driven on its runway but there were no races ever held – until this weekend.

Following the official departure of the TUDM from the airbase in March 2018, construction work has been underway to develop Bandar Malaysia (above). The circuit created this weekend on the runway (below) is unique and will be available just for this one time.

The runway that aircraft – which includes Malaysia’s first fighter jets like the Tebuan and Sabre – landed on was 1,199 metres long and on this runway, the event organisers created a track that is 1.96 kms long with two long straights (the longest being 600 metres). This track is one of the fastest and longest ever constructed for the series. Thus the stage was set for the fastest street racing action so far, presenting a new challenge of higher speeds than usual (140 – 150 km/h).

“I like the track because it is high speed and very wide. The long straight is awesome and I love the chicane. It’s both about being gutsy and a test of your skill in controlling the car,” said Dato’ Ken Foo, a competitor in the Sporting Class. “While the track is wider, overtaking will still not be easy because we are all driving identical cars. It’s about how you pace yourself the entire race, managing you speeds into and out of the corners, and looking at the opportunities. The weather will also make a lot of difference in the race, especially with the changing surface conditions from tarmac to concrete.”

SPORTING CLASS
In the Sporting Class for amateur drivers, S&D Tama Motorsports’ Tom Goh (Car 33 in the picture below) raced to his first victory of the season ahead of Crestmax Motorsports’ Adam Khalid in second place, in an incident-riddled 20-lap race which saw the Safety car coming out twice and leading the cars around. In third place was 15-year-old Hayden Haikal.

23 Motors’ Mirza Syahmi Mahzan led opening stages of the race from pole position but his race weekend was severely ruined by a 15-second penalty for a start infringement subsequently followed by a retirement. Three laps into the race, Saksama Motorsports’ Ricky Tan was too wide going into a left-hander and collided with the concrete barrier ending his race early. When the Safety Car peeled off the track 3 laps later, it didn’t take more than a few corners to bring it right back out due to a second collision between Distinctive Model’s Clement Yeo and Panglima City Racing Team’s Kenneth Koh.

“After Mirza’s crash, it was pretty much a race on my own at the front. I was however, trying to play it safe because the level of grip on the track was completely different during the race to what we had initially set-up the car for (wet conditions) during the unofficial practice session,” said Tom.

For Adam, second place was a solid finish considering he started fifth on the grid and missed out on scoring any championship points due to a badly damaged car in the opening round of Season 3 in Kuala Terengganu in September. “This is literally my first race weekend considering I was unable to compete in Kuala Terengganu after an incident during qualifying. It’s a great result for me!” he said.

TGR — *The Safety Car (below) was kept busy as accidents occurred in all the races and some of the cars returned to the pits on tow trucks, with body parts needing replacement.*

SUPER SPORTING CLASS
The pros delivered a sterling drive as expected in the Super Sporting Class with 23 Motors’ Tengku Djan Ley storming to victory from pole position in his black Vios (shown below). He would finish the 20-lap battle just 2 seconds ahead of Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin and Telegamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang in third place.

Tengku Djan and Mark set a blistering pace and were locked in a private duel at the front. ”My car felt good throughout the whole race and I could keep a consistent pace. I saw the lead stretching so I just maintained my focus to retain a comfortable gap to the finish. The track in Bandar Malaysia is wide and it allows you to take many different lines of attack into the corners and that builds for closer racing which is good,” said Tengku Djan.

While drivers endured a wet track on the first day of unofficial practice, today’s race was run in perfectly good dry (and very hot) weather which made it difficult for racing crews to find the most ideal set-up for the cars.

“This is the best track we’ve been able to race in the championship. There are slow corners and also high-speed corners which really reward drivers who commit. It is also about how well you can set up the car. So it doesn’t just boil down to the driver but you’re talking about an entire package in order to excel,” said Mark.

“Frankly speaking, I prefer it to be a wet race tomorrow. In rain, anything can happen. You can be the fastest but all it takes is one mistake and you’re out. It’ll be quite exciting and I certainly hope it rains tomorrow,” added Mark.

PROMOTIONAL CLASS
This class for celebrities has always been a big crowd-puller, especially fans who have followed celebrities like Janna Nick, Diana Danielle and Shukri Yahaya. Starting with the same experience – which was none – as all the other 35 competitors in the Vios Challenge, beat-boxer Shawn Lee made a textbook start from pole position to win the 20-lap race ahead of actor Shukri Yahaya and presenter Nabil Ahmad who finished third.

Shawn drove almost unopposed as the top 3 drivers broke away from the rest of the pack early in the race. It wasn’t that their cars had more power but their personal driving skills gave them an advantage. “I really love this track. It’s really high speed,” said Shawn, who crossed the finish line 2.2 seconds ahead of Shukri. Finishing fourth and fifth were actress Diana Danielle and singer Khai Bahar.

The battle for sixth and seventh positions was also intense between singers Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali, and it lasted for a good 16 laps before Nabila managed to successfully overtake. “Today was a very difficult day for me but thankfully, I managed to overcome these challenges. I love the track but I must admit that it is very tricky,” said Nabila.

The race was not without incident as, in the 10^th lap, actor Syafiq Kyle crashed into the wall. For model Ain Edruce, finishing eighth was a consolation considering she started tenth on the grid after running into the wall during the qualifying session.

tgr — *Street circuits allow spectators to be closer to the track and get a more vivid experience of the racing.*

Race 2 of the three classes will run tomorrow with the top six finishers today lining up on the starting grid in reverse order. So Tom Goh and Tengku Djan Ley will be starting from the back and have to fight their way through the pack.

Visit Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia for updates on the event.

Round 2 of Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Toyota Vios Challenge is on this weekend in Kuala Lumpur!

For Round 2 of the third season of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Toyota Vios Challenge racing series, the purpose-built circuit is in a unique location – the former Kuala Lumpur airport of the 1950s/1960s which became a RMAF airbase after Subang International Airport was opened. Following the closure of the airbase some years back, the 488-acre site was to be a huge commercial development known as Bandar Malaysia.

While construction works are underway, the 1.99-km long runway offered an opportunity for the organisers of the Toyota GAZOO Racing event to create a racetrack that is 1.7 kms long with exceptionally long straights.

Bandar Malaysia circuit — *Aerial view of the circuit for Round 2 at Bandar Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. Jalan Sg. Besi over the SMART Tunnel is on the left side of the picture.*

“As a street racing series, one of the most challenging tasks is to find a venue that is not only large enough to accommodate both the racing circuit and festival ground but more importantly, accessible and as close as we can to fans and spectators. These challenges however, also present us with the unique opportunity to explore venues never before used or envisioned as a racing circuit,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama. “In the case of Round 2, the former airport is as unique as it gets and the location as central as you can be in Kuala Lumpur.”

Circuit must meet international safety requirements
Construction of the circuit at Bandar Malaysia took approximately 3 weeks. This work involved transporting, positioning and interlocking hundreds of 4-tonne concrete blocks and debris fencing to form the inner and outer parameters of the track. The track must meet FIA (the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) safety specifications.

TGR safety — *Hundreds of 4-tonne concrete blocks must be positioned around the circuit to ensure that spectators are protected if the cars crash against the barriers.*

“Street racing brings out the best in Malaysian racers. The absence of run-off areas makes it extremely unforgiving, more intimidating and even more difficult to master. It requires 110% concentration, focus and precision from the drivers. For spectators, a street race is even more exciting visually as they are able to be closer to the action,” said Mr. Takeyama who has been a participant in the Vios Challenge sine the first season.

In three seasons of the Toyota Vios Challenge series, the race has been held at various stadium and exhibition grounds in Terengganu, Johor, Penang and the Klang Valley, as well as at the Sepang International Circuit.

Emulating street races such as the historic annual Macau Grand Prix, the Toyota Vios Challenge is no less exciting. More importantly, Mr. Takeyama added, it provides drivers with a more challenging race, an even greater level playing field, the excitement on driving on a variety of tracks, and contributes to them honing their technical and driving skills.

Meanwhile, UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K., said the prospect of transforming an airstrip into a full-blown racing track is a manifestation of both Toyota and its GAZOO Racing philosophy of breaking tradition and pushing the boundaries.

“Innovation is not only reflected in the vehicles we produce but it underlines the way we think and do things, and in the case of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival, it means turning the least expected venues into tracks to bring motor-racing closer to the masses,” said Mr. Ravindran.

2 days of close racing
Round 2 of the Toyota Vios Challenge will feature 2 days of racing with three driver categories as usual – Celebrity, Amateur and Professional. 10 local celebrities competing in the Promotional Class include Shawn Lee, Shukri Yahaya, Diana Danielle, Nabil Ahmad, Janna Nick, Khai Bahar, Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali, Ain Edruce and Syafiq Kyle. Both Shawn and Wany will start with one race win each after winning the opening two races of Season 3 in Kuala Terengganu earlier.

TGR celebrities — *Fans of celebrities get to meet them during breaks between races.*

“Round 2 is going to be a very exciting because we will be competing on a new track. There’s really no way of preparing for it in terms of setting up the car until we get a chance to drive on the track during the official practice session and evaluate the surface condition and overall flow of the circuit. From what I gather so far, it’s going to be quite a fast track,” said Shawn.

Among the big names in Malaysian motorsports driving in both the Sporting and Super Sporting classes for amateur and professional drivers, respectively, include Season 1 and Season 2 Sporting champions Brendan Paul Anthony and Brendon Lim; Season 1 and Season 2 Super Sporting champions Tengku Djan Ley and Boy Wong; and experienced drivers like Kenny Lee, William Ho, Mark Darwin, Kenneth Koh, Sutan Mustafa and Syafiq Ali. The Sporting Class will also feature 15-year-old Hayden Haikal.

A totally new track to learn quickly
For Super Sporting Class driver Kenny Lee, the first practice session is critical to uncover much of the unknown. “I have never had the opportunity to visit Bandar Malaysia in the past and therefore I don’t know what the surface condition is like. The first thing everyone will be looking into is certainly the final track layout and finding the fastest racing line around the track. We’ll also have to carefully look at the surface conditions especially in the braking zones because you never know, some areas can be a bit bumpy, slippery or even dusty,” said Kenny.

Bandar Malaysia — Another aerial view of the circuit which has been laid out on the runway that aircraft used to land on. Note the exceptionally long straights but as every car will have the same performance levels, it will be driver skill and strategy that makes the difference, not power.

Tengku Djan Ley shares the same sentiment, saying drivers will in essence have only about 90 minutes throughout the race weekend to learn the new track. “We have a track walk on Thursday evening and the official practice starts on Friday, so essentially you only have a couple of laps to try and decipher the entire track and obtain enough information that will go into setting up the race car. Those who are able to do this will have an advantage,” he said.

“There’s really not much that can be done to the set-up apart from experimenting with different tyre pressures, suspension settings and alignment combinations, but these small changes do make a big difference on track,” he added.

For race fans and spectators, the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival will offer a variety of activities for all the family. There will be Toyota’s fleet of vehicles (with test drive sessions available), a drift performance by professional Japanese drivers, a concert, beyblade tournament, racing simulators and the display of the all-new Toyota GR Supra.

Entrance is free of charge and the event is from 9 am to 6 pm on this Saturday and Sunday, November 9/10 2019.

Click here for more information about the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Toyota Vios Challenge (more…)

Day 2 report – TGR Festival & Vios Challenge Season 3, Round 1

The second day of the Vios Challenge, part of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival Season 3 held in Kuala Terengganu on Friday and Saturday, produced a series of many firsts. For starters, 15-year-old Hayden Haikal stormed to his second race victory and his first ever win on a street circuit in the Sporting Class, while singers Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali climbed the winners’ podium for their first time in the Promotional Class for celebrity drivers.

SPORTING CLASS
“I’m extremely happy with the race win because Kuala Terengganu is a very challenging track. Frankly, I don’t really enjoy this track because there’s hardly any opportunity to overtake here but thankfully everything fell into place today,” said Hayden who finished the race ahead of Hiewa Racing Team’s Wong Chin Eeg and Panglima City Racing’s Kenneth Koh who crossed the finish line in third position.

Coincidentally, Kuala Terengganu was also the venue where Hayden made his debut in the Vios Challenge in the last season. A rookie then, he started his first ever saloon car race in ninth position and also finished ninth.

The start of the 22-lap race started rather dramatically with pole position man Shanmuganathan Arumugan being squeezed out of contention going into the first corner. Wong had an exceptionally good start from second on the grid to punch a hole in the traffic to slip into the lead, leaving enough space for Hayden and Kulim Topwheels driver Dato’ Kenneth Foo to move into second and third positions respectively. Koh however, overtook Foo for third position by the end of the first lap.

Wong held on to his lead for seven laps until making a slight mistake which allowed Hayden to inherit the lead. “Hayden was a lot quicker on the track and as soon as I made a mistake, I saw him beside me. I then made the decision to back off and let him through. It would not have benefitted any of us had the two cars came together,” said Wong.

“After overtaking, I tried to build a gap to Wong, pace myself and focus to not make any mistakes especially in the corners,” Hayden said of the duel.

Koh meanwhile, was a man on a mission to score as many championship points possible as he claimed his second visit to the winners’ podium in two consecutive races over the weekend. His third place finish was a fitting end to the weekend which also included winning Race 1.

“I felt a slight impact at the rear going into the first corner and from then on, I became rather paranoid of having incurred any damage. I tried to close the gap to the car ahead but in the end, the most sensible thing to do was to pace myself to the end because there was also a big gap between me and the car behind,” said Koh.

PROMOTIONAL CLASS
Rain again came in the late afternoon (like last year) and as the drivers were more cautious, this popular race was uneventful. In fact, the start had to be delayed for 30 minutes before resuming behind the Safety Car.

Vios Challenge — *Rain delayed the start of the Promotional Race and the Safety Car (the latest Toyota Camry) had to control the convoy for a while.*

The wet conditions however, turned out to be in favour of singer Wany Hasrita who stormed into her first ever race win. In second place was fellow singer Nabila Razali, also making her first appearance on the winners’ podium, followed by actor Shukri Yahaya in third position.

“The wet track conditions made the race twice as difficult but I did my best to keep my cool and to avoid making any mistakes. The track was slippery and that meant having to pick an earlier braking point into the corners,” said Wany who started from pole position on the grid.

Victory was also extremely sweet for Nabila who demonstrated a more calm and composed drive to finish in second place and claim her first visit to the winners’ podium.

“Season 2 was really difficult for me and I struggled to finish the race but thankfully, the long hours of practice and with guidance from the instructors, my driving and confidence level on the track has improved so much. I’m hoping to do much better this season,” said Nabila.

Related story: Competitors find new Vios racing car a much better performer

SUPER SPORTING CLASS
With the exception of Brendon Lim who dropped from fourth position on the grid to eighth place and Brendan Paul Anthony who lost one place, all the drivers in the Super Sporting class maintained their track positions from start to finish in the 22-lap race.

Toyotsu Racing’s William Ho led from start to finish, with Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang taking second place some 1.93 seconds behind, and Kenny Lee of Kegani Racing completing the top three a further two seconds adrift.

In the class of the elite professional racers, the race unfolded with all drivers posting super competitive times and remaining within the 1 minute 15 second to 1 minute 16 second bracket around the tight and narrow 1.65-km street circuit. While it is always difficult for any competitor to overtake on a narrow street track, Ho found that leading the race also placed a degree of pressure.

“Freddie was very close to me and I tried my best to pull away but that proved to be very difficult and I tried my best to keep composed and to not hit the concrete barrier. It was a question of maintaining my pace, not pushing too hard and finishing the race to score valuable championship points,” recalled Ho after the race.

TGR Festival — *As in previous seasons, fans got to meet the celebrities and chat with them.*

Round 2 of the Vios Challenge and TGR Festival will be held in the Central Region but the venue has not been confirmed yet. It would likely be at the MAEPS site outside Kuala Lumpur which has a lot of space for setting up the track, as well as plenty of parking areas. To get updates on the event, visit toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/tgr-racing-festival/season-3.

Day 1 report – TGR Festival & Vios Challenge Season 3, Round 1

Former champions Shawn Lee and Tengku Djan Ley produced the best of comebacks in the opening round of Season 3 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival and Vios Challenge held at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Terengganu today. After spending Season 2 of the race series competing amongst a competitive pool of amateur drivers in the Sporting class, Shawn and actor Shukri Yahaya were clearly the dominant two on the track in the Promotional class race for celebrities.

Tengku Djan, meanwhile, concluded his comeback race with a second place in the Super Sporting class for professionals. He was champion of the Super Sporting class in Season 1.

TGR Vios Challenge S3 — *Shukri Yahaya and Shawn Lee*

PROMOTIONAL CLASS
Shawn and Shukri underlined a strong comeback into the Promotional category by winning Race 1 and finishing second respectively in the 20-lap race. “It was an exciting race right up to the end because Shukri managed to bridge the gap and that got me a little concerned on whether he was close enough to attempt to overtake. At the same time, I was trying to remain calm and not make any mistakes that could have cost me the race two laps from the end,” said Shawn. “It was a good fight with Shukri and I enjoyed every moment of it.”

Despite setting the fastest time in qualifying, actor Shukri failed to make the most of his pole position after losing track position to Shawn into the first corner. “I made a mistake in the first corner and from then on, the effort was on trying to keep up with Shawn Lee. The lead grew to about 4 seconds at one stage but in the closing stages, I managed to close the gap to about a second but I wasn’t going to risk trying to pass him since we have a second race to think about on Saturday,” said Shukri.

In third place was actress and also defending Promotional class champion Diana Danielle who was gifted a podium finish despite being some 37 seconds behind when Nabil Ahmad clipped the concrete barrier and retired. Also retiring from the race was Syafiq Kyle while Khai Bahar, Nabila Razali, Wany Hasrita, Janna Nick and Ain Edruce finished in fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth places, respectively.

SUPER SPORTING CLASS
The elites in the Super Sporting class drove a close but clean race from start to finish with Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin winning the 22-lap race just half a second ahead of 23 Motors’ Tengku Djan Ley. In third place was Tedco Racing’s Brendon Lim.

“I had a good start from pole position and I managed to pull away slightly, enough to be comfortable. My tyres however, were badly worn 5 laps to the finish and I could see Tengku Djan catching up,” said Mark.

For Tengku Djan, the visit to podium underlines a great start to the season having won Season 1 and taking a break from Season 2. “The biggest difference this season is that the top 9 cars are all within a second of the fastest qualifying time. Everyone is super competitive this year. The race was good, I had a good car but the track was super tight to be able to make a clean move so I decided to keep my position and finish the race,” he said.

“The most challenging about the race is to be on point every lap, every corner and to not make any mistake because if you do, everyone else will just capitalize on that mistake because we are all driving identical cars. It is not an easy task to do drive in these conditions for 22 laps. There is just no room for error,” said Malaysia’s ‘Prince of Drift’.

SPORTING CLASS
In the Sporting Class, Panglima City Racing Team’s Kenneth Koh took the chequered flag ahead of Team Distinctive Model’s Clement Yeo and Kulim Topwheels’ Dato’ Ken Foo who finished second and third respectively. All three drivers made a textbook start of the 22-lap race, from first, second and third positions on the grid respectively, with only 3 seconds separating them.

“I had a good race and after a week of getting used to the new Toyota Vios, I am comfortable with how we’ve been able to set-up the car for Round 1. It’s the first win of the year and hopefully more to come throughout the season! I’m hoping to be consistently on the podium this season,” said Kenneth who started from pole position.

The race, however, was red-flagged 3 laps before the finish with Team Fokus Tetap’s Lim Chun Beng becoming Season 3’s first casualty of the 1.65-km street circuit’s reinforced concrete barrier. A brush with the barrier damaged his front right fender which resulted in the tyre delaminating and sending his car out of control into the concrete wall.

Race 2 of the Vios Challenge continues tomorrow (Saturday September 7). While the Vios Challenge is the highlight of the TGR Festival, there are lots of other activities for all the family from morning till night. Come and see the action, the latest Toyota models and meet the celebrities who also race in the Vios Challenge. You might also take home a 55-inch Smart TV and other exciting prizes in the Lucky Draw. Entrance is free.

Piston.my

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