Sepang International Circuit Archives

Day 1 report – TGR Festival & Vios Challenge Season 4, Round 2

After a 7-month break – with half of the time due to restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic – the Vios Challenge of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) was on again today. The participants were eager to go racing so it was competition at its most intense in Round 2 at the Sepang International Circuit.

Unfortunately, although the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been relaxed, there are still restrictions set by the health authorities and spectators are not permitted at the circuit to watch. To make sure fans throughout Malaysia could still watch the action, there have been live broadcasts today over Toyota Malaysia’s website and Facebook pages.

All four classes of competitors returned to their dogfights, intent on improving the positions in the championship. The four classes are the Rookie Class, Promotional Class, Sporting Class and Super Sporting Class.

Two of the four new faces making their debut in the Vios Challenge impressed with Malaysian touring car driver Mitchell Cheah and Sepang Talent Development Program driver Ady Rahimy winning in the Super Sporting Class and Sporting Class, respectively. Two other drivers also making their debut in the Vios Challenge are veteran and 2-time Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race champion Faidzil Alang and Malaysia Championship Series driver, Lau Seng Kiat.

“We could not have asked for a more exciting restart to the season, and with the inclusion of 4 new drivers into the series, the Vios Challenge one-make series continues to attract a competitive field of Malaysian racers, “said GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer, Akio Takeyama, who has also been a participant since the series began.

Round 2 Vios Challenge 2021 — All the cars in the Vios Challenge have identical performance and specifications and inspected by officials before and after each race. So the racing is all about driver skill rather than power, and makes for close competition.

SUPER SPORTING CLASS
In the Super Sporting Class for veteran and skilled drivers, touring car driver Mitchell Cheah powered to victory from start to finish in the 20-lap race, followed by Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin 0.7 seconds behind, and M7 Japan Project Team’s Sayfiq Ali in third place.

Cheah, driving for 23 Motors, set a blistering pace throughout practice and qualifying to clock 1:25.618 for pole position. Being on the front row of the grid, he made a brilliant start in the race but was only able to marginally pull away from the rest of the field behind who were locked in a fierce contest for second and third positions.

In the opening laps of the race, Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang was in contention for second position with Mark in third, and championship leader Tengku Djan Ley in fourth position, but 8 laps later, Mark overtook to consolidate his place for second place. Ang tried to hang on for third but could not stop a charging Syafiq who inevitably proved to become the biggest gainer in the race, finishing third despite starting from as far back as ninth on the grid.

Carrying an extra 40 kgs of ballast by virtue of winning two consecutive races in Round 1, Tengku Djan struggled all weekend with the extra weight, managing only fourth quickest, before finishing Race 1 in 14th and one lap behind after a brush with the concrete on the exit of Turn 8 which caused a puncture.

SPORTING CLASS
Making his Vios Challenge debut, Ady Rahimy was hardly intimidated by the competition to lead the race from start to finish. He very quickly opened a gap of 4.5 seconds but that lead disappeared by the 15th lap when the Safety Car came out on the track. When the race resumed, there was only 1 lap to the finish but Ady gave it all he could and sprinted to the finishing line closely pursued by Dream Chaser’s Bradley Benedict Anthony, with Distinctive Model’s Clement Yeo rounding up the top 3 positions.

The battle for second and third positions was intensely fierce with Yeo, Aylezo Motorsports’s Mirza Syahmi and Bradley exchanging places on several occasions with less than half a second separating all three drivers. Bradley however, attacked consistently despite coming under pressure and managed to get ahead of Yeo in the penultimate stages of the race.

ROOKIE CLASS
In the Rookie Class, the 20-lap race was won by current championship leader Naquib Azlan who collected his third straight victory in 3 races for a perfect track record so far. Coming in second was Mika Hakimi while in third was Amer Harris. Starting from third on the grid, Naquib paced himself patiently, observing the battle ahead involving Putera Adam and pole position driver Mika before mounting his attack for the lead in the closing stages of the race.

Putera Adam, 14, had driven a compelling race that saw him clinch the lead in the 11th lap. He was within 5 laps of what could have potentially been his first ever race victory until a race incident forced him into retirement. Finishing fourth was Jwan Hii.

PROMOTIONAL CLASS
This class has always been a crowd-puller and though they were not physically at the track, it’s a sure bet that the fans of the various celebrities taking part were cheering them on from their homes. Starting from pole position, Shukri Yahaya made a great start and held the lead from start to finish. Finishing second was Nabil Ahmad followed by Nabila Razali in third place.

The opening stages of the race saw Shukri pull away with a comfortable lead as Nabil and fellow racer Zizan Razak tussled for second position. Both drivers were unwilling to give up an inch and exchanged places several times in Lap 2 before contact between the two of them resulted in a damaged suspension for Zizan who was forced into retirement.

That incident promoted Akio Takeyama to third, but it also brought out the Safety Car for 2 laps. The fight for third was intense with Takeyama having to fend off challenges from Ahirine Ahirudin and Nabila Razali for several laps. The two ladies eventually got past Takeyama. But GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer did not give up easily and tried fighting back for the lost position. His determination, however, put his car in contact with Ahirine’s which promoted Nabila into third.

For Shukri, the Safety Car erased whatever gap he had built and he once again found himself under pressure from Nabil. The actor however, kept his head down and put in consistent lap times over the remaining 10 laps to build his lead from 3.8 seconds to a massive 14.7 seconds ahead of Nabil for the race victory with Nabila in third. The biggest gainer in the race however, proved to be Nabila who jumped 5 places from eighth on the grid to third on the podium.

The second race of Round 2 of the Vios Challenge will be run tomorrow and w all the action will be broadcast live on the Toyota Malaysia website at www.toyota.com.my, and on the Facebook pages of Toyota Malaysia and Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia.

UMW Toyota Motor starts GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program

Round 2 of Vios Challenge to be broadcast live from Sepang circuit this weekend

At last, after the forced suspension of public activities – including motorsports – the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival can resume and with it, the second round of the Vios Challenge. As with the first round in March, Round 2 will also be run at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend (October 23/24).

Unfortunately, spectators will not be allowed to watch the racing from the stands as the health authorities do not permit such gatherings at this time. Therefore all the action will be broadcast live on the Toyota Malaysia website at www.toyota.com.my, and on the Facebook pages of Toyota Malaysia and Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia.

This second round is part of the fourth season of the popular Vios Challenge, a one-make series that has grown in popularity. As many of the participants have gained more experience with each season, the racing has also become more competitive. And because the cars are all technically similar – and strict inspections ensure that – the racing is close and what matters more is driver skill.

Round 1 brought out the best in all the racers, some going on to stamp an early sign of dominance in the opening races (two per round) of the season, while several newcomers demonstrated talent that have all the makings of emerging champions.

The Vios Challenge consists of 4 classes, including the Rookie Class which has 5 graduates of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program. These are promising racers who are stepping up from karting and sim racing to racing in a real saloon car for their very first time. There is also the ever-popular Promotional Class which has 10 local celebrities who are closely followed by their thousands of fans across the country.

*Some of the local celebrities taking part in the Promotional Class.*

The more serious drivers (not to say those in the Rookie Class and Promotional Class are not serious) are in the Sporting Class for amateur drivers and the Super Sporting Class for the veteran and professional drivers.

The battle of the rookies is currently being led by Naquib Nor Azlan, whose transition from sim racing to real racing has had little impact on his dominance on the racing track, virtual or otherwise. Naquib won the first two races of the season, closely chased by 17-year old Amer Harris and Mika Hakimi.

The Super Sporting Class see the dominance of professional driver, drifter and GAZOO Racing Ambassador, Tengku Djan Ley who was victorious in both season-opening races. Other contenders in the running include last season’s runner-up Mark Darwin, last season’s second runner-up Freddie Ang, and accomplished veterans the likes of Boy Wong, William Ho, Kenny Lee, Keifli Othman, Syafiq Ali and former Sporting Class champion Brendan Paul Anthony. Also competing in the class is teenager Hayden Haikal who was last year’s Sporting Class champion and has been upgraded.

An individual who has been equally dominant in the season opener is actor Zizan Razak who, like Tengku Djan and Naquib Azlan, also rejoins Round 2 with a perfect 2-race victory in Round 1 despite being in his first ever season of the Vios Challenge. Others competing in the Promotional Class include actor Shukri Yahaya, actress Janna Nick, presenter Nabil Ahmad and singers Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar. They will be joined by singer/song writer Talitha Tan and television personality Ahirene Ahirudin.

The Sporting Class remains a class that is still too close to call with Adam Khalid and Haji Sutan Mustaffa Salihin each with one race victory to their name. 19 competitive drivers will be gunning for the chance of collecting more points this weekend and ending the season as champion.

“We are extremely grateful that the season can continue, and I am sure that all the racers are eager to get back into action. I do not foresee the long break having an adverse impact on their performance. Instead, like Round 1, the competition will be even stiffer and closer all the way to the chequered flag,” said GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer, Akio Takeyama, who is also a racing driver himself.

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created

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

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

When the pandemic hit last year and brought things to near-standstill, motorsports activities were suspended as such events typically have huge crowds which are a definite no-no these days as they can promote the spread of the coronavirus. No one knew just how long the situation would last and motorsports organisers kept praying that things would ease so they could run some events.

At UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), even though the final round of Season 3 of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival had to be cancelled, there was optimism that the pandemic could not go on ‘forever’. And although Season 4 could not start off around the usual time in the third quarter of the year, planning was still done with a hope that eventually, the new season could be run.

The company even decided to use the ‘downtime’ to train a group of young men who excelled in karting and sim racing (or eSports). They were recruited for the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program where they would not just receive professional training – physically and mentally – but also have cars to use during the Vios Challenge. The new Rookie Class would complement the hugely popular Promotional Class in the series which had local celebrities taking part.

And so, with the green light given by the health authorities, Season 4 could get underway this weekend – but with some conditions for the protection of participants. Apart from the strict observance of Standard Operating Procedures that every Malaysian should now be familiar with, the public also could not attend the event held at the Sepang International Circuit. This is similar to many motorsports events in the past year, including F1 races, where spectators have been absent. Instead, organisers have provided live broadcasts of the races and GAZOO Racing Malaysia has done likewise for this weekend’s activities.

The broadcasts are on the UMW Toyota Motor and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia websites at toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/, and also on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.

“This is our fourth season organizing the Vios Challenge and the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival, and we constantly challenge ourselves to improve and push the limits not only in terms of our vehicles but also what the brand represents,” said GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer, Akio Takeyama (who has been racing in every season in the Promotional Class).

“We are very much committed to continuing with such activities moving forward and you can expect an even better performance from Toyota, our vehicles, the activities we undertake, and from all the drivers who continue to support in making the Vios Challenge a huge success,” he promised.

*Only the North Track is used for this round and it is about half of the full circuit. It has a length of 2.706 kms with 9 turns and 5 straights.*

PROMOTIONAL CLASS
Mr. Takeyama, who is also Deputy Chairman of UMWT, found himself on the winner’s podium after finishing second position in the battle of the celebrities in the race while newcomer Zizan Razak stormed to victory in a wet race, with fellow newcomer Ahirene Ahirudin coming in third place. Quite an impressive showing for the two first-timers in the Vios Challenge.

Earlier in the race, actor Shukri Yahaya had shot into the lead from pole position with TV presenter Nabil Ahmad in second and Zizan in third position. An early mistake however, sent Nabil out of contention for a podium finish which paved the way for a two-car battle for the lead between Shukri and Zizan. The latter eventually inherited the lead as early as the third lap with a brilliant overtaking move.

“Because this was my first race, I was honestly just out to gain experience. The rain however, worked in my favour. I enjoy driving in the wet!” said Zizan.

Starting the race from sixth position, TV presenter Ahirene kept her calm throughout the 18-lap race and benefitted from the misfortunes of Shukri, Nabil and singer-song writer Talitha Tan who started the race ahead of her.

“I want to thank Toyota for inviting me to join Season 4. I was a bit nervous before the start of the race, especially with the rain making it more difficult and challenging. I really wasn’t expecting anything and I just wanted to enjoy the race,” said Ahirene, who has racing experience on 2-wheelers and is also in the Royal Malaysian Navy.

SUPER SPORTING CLASS
In this top-tier class, the lead exchanged hands 4 times in the 20-lap race before GAZOO Racing ambassador and Prima Pearl Auto driver Tengku Djan Ley overtook M7 Japan Project Team’s Syafiq Ali for the lead in the very last lap for victory. Coming in third was 16-year-old Hayden Haikal who was making his debut in this class after impressive racing in the previous season.

The start of the race around the North Track (half of the whole circuit) was delayed for 20 minutes due to a brief thunderstorm as the cars lined up on the starting grid. Conditions on the track precipitated for two citing laps behind the Safety Car for safety reasons and the Race Director decided on having a rolling start instead of a conventional grid start.

Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin led the first 2 laps from pole position with Hayden and Tengku Djan hot on his heels. Hayden pushed into the lead on the third lap and held the lead for more than 10 laps before conceding to Syafiq who later led for another 5 laps. With all the action up front, the experienced Tengku Djan paced himself and was ready to strike in the very last lap.

“Instead of me paving the way, I let others do it. It was a difficult race to begin with as Syafiq was super fast. Rather than trying to defend my position I decided to just follow him and understand what the front competitors were doing and observe where their strengths and weaknesses were. I knew the race would be decided in the last 2 laps and that was when I started to push and began to make my move,” said Tengku Djan who is also Season 3’s defending Super Sporting Class champion.

ROOKIE CLASS
In the battle of the young drivers in this new Class, the top 3 podium positions were surprisingly dominated by two simulator racers and a single karter. The graduates of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program certainly made a good impression on their debut race.

For Naquib Azlan, who was fastest throughout practice and qualifying, the 20-lap race could not have been a more memorable debut for the young simulator racer who was racing in a saloon car for the very first time. He finished the race ahead of karter Amer Harris and a second simulator racer, Mika Hakimi.

“The weekend has gone really smoothly and we managed to achieve everything we set out to do throughout practice, qualifying and the race. I was hoping to have been able to keep up a little bit more with the Super Sporting Class drivers [in times] but the main goal was to win the Rookie Class. These guys [in the Super Sporting Class] are really quick,” said Naquib.

Representing the karting fraternity, Amer was also pleasantly surprised with his result. “I had a really bad start and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting to be up to speed especially in the rain. I caught up to Naquib but I later made a mistake,” said the 17-year-old.

SPORTING CLASS
With 19-drivers on the grid, the Sporting Class was the most highly-anticipated race, and the return of the rain made conditions even more challenging for the drivers. At the end of the 20-lap race, it was Crestmax Motorsport’s Adam Khalid who took the chequered flag ahead of Team Distinctive Model’s Clement Yeo and privateer Eric Yong, all three of whom have been podium finishers in the previous seasons.

“At the start of the race, it was really tough to find the best racing line because it was dry throughout practice and qualifying and this was the first time I’ve driven the car in the wet. After dropping back a few places and managing to regain my momentum and composure, I tried to save the car for tomorrow’s race. Hopefully, it will be a dry race tomorrow,” said Adam.

Yeo meanwhile, was the biggest gainer in the race having started from seventh position on the grid. “The conditions were very slippery. Every single corner was a gamble and I believe we all struggled for grip. I had a good and lucky start and I was fortunate to have had a clear path ahead,” he said.

Tomorrow sees the second series of races in the Vios Challenge and you can watch the live broadcasts at the times show below:

The broadcasts will be on the UMW Toyota Motor and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia websites at toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/, and also on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.

Season 4 of Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival to have 6 events with 11 races in 2021

First round of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival to be broadcast live this weekend

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on strict measures to prevent and stop the spread of the coronavirus. Although the authorities have eased the restrictions, large gatherings are still not allowed. Therefore, while many activities can be run, the general public cannot attend and have to watch via broadcasts over the internet.

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) is no exception. This has been an annual affair for the past few years, an event held in different parts of the country with racing, entertainment and fun for the family as its key elements. However, this year, the first round of the fourth season at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend will not be open to the general public.

*One of the races in a previous round of the Vios Challenge.*

In accordance with the requirements of the health authorities, a ‘Sports Bubble’ will be initiated for those who are allowed to participate but racing fans and the public nationwide will watch the TGR festival online via Toyota’s website and social media platforms on the internet.

“The concept of the event remains unchanged, only the manner in which it reaches out to the public in these extraordinary and challenging times. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival has primarily been about bringing motorsports to the masses and we will continue to do this,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Ravindran K.

“The people who have come to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival over the past 3 seasons have done so for many different reasons. Some come for the racing, others for the chance to spend time with their favourite celebrities, and there are those who are there for the many different on-ground activities and attractions. Moving forward, it is imperative we continue with this even if it means going online, as this is what has fundamentally made the festival unique and a huge success,” he said.

While the on-ground atmosphere will be void of fans and public presence, Mr. Ravindran said the ‘silver lining’ is that the opportunity to livestream the TGR Festival for the entire race weekend would reach out to an even larger and wider audience, including racing fans outside of Malaysia, all of whom can watch the action from the comfort and safety of their homes.

*The rookies in the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program.*

This new season sees an expansion of the racing activities with four, instead of three classes. Besides the Sporting Class, Super Sporting Class and Promotional Class, there will also be the new Rookie Class. This will see 6 newcomers who are graduates of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program. Identified for their potential, they are stepping up from karting and simulator to making their debut in saloon car racing and have been provided with professional training to prepare them for a new ‘career’.

The Promotional Class, always a crowd favourite as popular local celebrities take part, also has three newcomers – Talitha Tan, Zizan Razak and Ahirine Ahirudin. In between races, the 10 celebrities will also be involved in a livestream entertainment segment called TOYOTA GAZOO Racing OFFTHEGRID and will be able to give the viewers intimate insights into their racing experiences.

As for the Sporting Class and Super Sporting Class, many of the drivers are now experienced in the racing which is run as the Vios Challenge One-Make series as only the Toyota Vios is used. The cars are all identical in performance and strict inspections before and after the race are carried out to ensure that they conform to the rules.

In a segment called Jom Duet Bersama, three of the celebrities – Khai Bahar, Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali – fans will be invited to participate in an acting and singing duet challenge with the best submissions to be aired during the livestream. Comedians Nabil Ahmad and Zizan Razak will also join forces for Latah Positif and Berita Apani, giving viewers a quirky insight into the event.

Tengku Djan Ley – also known as Malaysia’s ‘Prince of Drift’ – will also go head-to-head in a battle to test the reaction times of the rookies in a series of challenges off the circuit in Toyota Arena Bersama Rookies & Tengku Djan. And fresh from completing their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, two of these rookies, Amer Harris and Mika Hakimi, will host Did You SPM?, where they will ask racers, mechanics and race officials random SPM questions in a test of wits.

Season 4 of Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival to have 6 events with 11 races in 2021

SUPER GT event in Malaysia postponed due to uncertainty of pandemic outlook

Activities that have large gatherings of people have been stopped by governments all over the world. This is to prevent close contact among people so as to prevent and cut the chain of transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Major sports events worldwide – including the Tokyo Olympics 2020 – have been cancelled or postponed with the hope that the situation will change later on. However, the pandemic has so far not shown signs of slowing so no one can really see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’.

In view of this outlook, the GT Association Co. Ltd. (GTA) has today announced a postponement of the 2020 Autobacs SUPER GT Series. This was to have seen the return of SUPER GT racing to Malaysia after a 6-year absence, along with being the world’s first-ever GT night race.

The event was to have been the fifth round of the series, which was scheduled for July 16 – 19, 2020, and included the SUPER GT Malaysia Festival 2020 at the Sepang International Circuit.

In consultation with GTA and the relevant local authorities, HARO Sports & Entertainment Sdn Bhd said that the event will now be deferred to another date which will be announced later. HARO will continue to work with relevant authorities to closely monitor the pandemic and an alternative date will be announced as soon as it has been declared that the COVID-19 pandemic no longer poses any threat.

Safety first
“There is just too much of uncertainty with the threat of the pandemic growing exponentially over the last few weeks, resulting in widespread international travel restrictions. This is certainly not the way we had envisioned the return of the series to Malaysia but a postponement is nevertheless critical to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders – local and international fans, spectators, racing teams, event partners, event vendors and event personnel,” said Fahrizal Hassan, the company’s Managing Partner.

He added that tickets purchased for the event will continue to be valid for use.

Super GT racing returns to Malaysia with the world’s first-ever night race!

Final round of Vios Challenge one-make race to be ‘closed event’ at Sepang

The fourth and final round of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) and the Vios Challenge one-make race will be held at the Sepang International Circuit on April 18 and 19, 2020. However, the event will not be open to the public due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement just release, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) said it will be a ‘closed-door’ race. “UMW Toyota Motor undertakes accountability for the welfare of Malaysians at large, and also the well-being of our crew members, racers and race teams,” the statement explained.

Vios Challenge Season 2 — *The final round of the previous season was held for the first time at the Sepang International Circuit,*

Minimal number of participants during races
Only essential crew members, racers and race teams will be invited for the completion of the third season which began last August. On event days, the organisers will be conducting health screenings for racers, race team members and crew prior to entering the race premises.

“We trust that our fans appreciate the current situation. All the races will still be broadcast live on Toyota’s Facebook and Youtube accounts and we invite everyone to cheer on their favourite racers and celebrities by tuning in to the live shows’, said UMWT’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama, who is also one of the participants.

Information and updates about the TGR Festival are available at toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/ .

Motorsports organisers urged to postpone events
Meanwhile, the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) has also issued a statement urging all organisers to postpone their events until the situation subsides and improves. “This decision is made based on the directives from the Ministry of Health (MoH), Sports Commission, and in consultation with the MAM Medical Commission.

The statement adds that should an organizer choose to still go ahead with its event, the MAM ‘highly recommends that it be held with minimal personnel and spectators, as in a closed-event format’. It calls on the organisers to act responsibly to reduce the risk of infection and to follow the guidelines by the MoH and W.H.O. for participants at the event.

Super GT racing returns to Malaysia with the world’s first-ever night race!

After a 6-year absence, SUPER GT racing is back in Malaysia! To be between July 16 – 19, 2020, the event will be the world’s first-ever GT night race, besides seeing the debut of an-all Malaysian team for the very first time.

The SUPER GT Malaysia Festival 2020 is one of two races outside of Japan and will be round 5 of the 2020 Autobacs SUPER GT Series (listed as a major event in the Visit Malaysia 2020 calendar). 80,000 spectators are expected during the 4-day event. Hopefully, the current COVID-19 epidemic will have diminished, if not ended, by then.

*SUPER GT events were held in Malaysia between 2000 and 2013.*

The 2020 Autobacs SUPER GT Series starts in April at the Okayama International Circuit, before moving to Fuji Speedway and Suzuka Circuit in May. The Series’ two overseas legs will be held in July at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand and in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit. After that, the teams return to Japan for the remaining three rounds with the final one being held in November at the Twin Ring Montegi raceway.

The Autobacs SUPER GT Series runs a two-driver endurance format with race distances ranging from 300 kms to 1,000 kms, There are two classes – the GT500 main class effectively exclusive to works teams, and the GT300 class which run far less downforce than their GT500 counterparts.

The GT500 main class features a clash of titans among the big three Japanese manufacturers Toyota, Nissan and Honda spread among the 15 teams, with four participating tyre manufacturers such as Bridgestone, Yokohama, Dunlop and Michelin. The GT300 class features 30 competing teams representing a wider array of manufacturers such as Mercedes-AMG, Toyota, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Nissan, Bentley, Honda, Lotus and Subaru.

“SUPER GT racing continues to be a huge crowd-puller worldwide and especially in Malaysia. We thought long and hard about how to make it better and realized that a night race would present teams and drivers with a unique challenge, in addition to racing under extreme heat and unpredictable weather conditions,” said Haro Sports & Entertainment Managing Partner, Fahrizal Hasan.

“With the GTA fully in agreement, Malaysia now has what is essentially the world’s only GT night race. Motorsports fans and gear heads now have something to look forward to every year, and we are bringing the race back with a bang!” he added.

2020 SUPER GT MALAYSIA (4) — A Hop-On Hop-Off Bus will be used to promote the SUPER GT Malaysia Festival 202 race in Kuala Lumpur and ferry motorsports fans on a circuit safari around as the cars race around the Sepang International Circuit during the weekend.

“We have missed the heat of Malaysia. Malaysia offers a unique challenge of higher temperatures and conditions than what the competing teams are normally accustomed to in the other rounds held predominantly in Japan,” said Chairman of GTA Ltd. Masaaki Bandoh. “This is something that not only test the drivers, but the heat and, sometimes, torrential rains put the cars, their engines, the tyres and the crew involved through one of the toughest challenges available in circuit racing.”

Malaysia previously hosted the first overseas race of the All-Japan Grand Touring Championship with two exhibition races in 2000 and 2001. The following year, this country was officially included as a full-fledged championship round and Malaysia continued to play host to the Series’ overseas rounds until 2013.

A popular attraction associated with the event is the presence of the SUPER GT Race Queens who bring not only immense colour and character to the event, but provide a vital connection between teams and the fans, particularly during the open pit sessions, pit walk, grid walk, circuit safari and activity stage at the mall area.

SUPER GT Malaysia Festival 2020 will also feature a Kids Pit-Walk session, open to schoolchildren aged 5 to 12 years and to all ticket-holders who bring at least one kid of the age group. Certainly a treat for the young ones who are interested in motorsports at an early age!

Tickets are priced from RM100 (K1 Grandstand), RM250 (Main Grandstand) and RM2,000 (GT Club) and can be purchased online at www.supergtmalaysia.com. For now, early bird purchasers can get them at reduced prices – RM80 (K1 Grandstand) and RM200 (Main Grandstand).

Also available are three exclusive Dream, Ultimate and Experience packages. The Dream Package and Ultimate package includes GT Club paddock hospitality, a taxi ride, grid-walk, pit-walk and circuit safari. The Experience Package offers GT Club paddock hospitality, a taxi ride, pit-walk and circuit safari.

2020 SUPER GT MALAYSIA (1) — *Spectators stand a chance to win this brand new Toyota GR Supra in a competition during the event.*

In partnership with UMW Toyota Motor, organizer of the well-established Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival one-make street race, all SUPER GT Malaysia Festival 2020 ticket-holders will also have the chance of winning and driving home one brand-new Toyota GR Supra in a ‘Predict and Win’ competition.

2020 SUPER GT MALAYSIA (2) — *Art of Speed will also be organising many displays for motorsports fans.*

Art of Speed will also be at the SUPER GT Malaysia Festival 2020 and treat motorsports fans to an outdoor Auto Expo at the open Mall Area. There will be a wide range of displays by car manufacturers, automotive brands, aftermarket specialists, car clubs and companies offering lifestyle products.

Proton R3 wins Sepang 1000km again – that’s 3 years in a row!

Team Proton R3 (R3) capped a successful 2019 season yesterday by winning the Sepang 1000km (S1K) race for a third consecutive time. The impressive achievement was led by Mitchell Cheah and Fariqe Hairuman in the latest Proton Iriz which dominated the proceedings in a tough 9-hour race. There was double joy for the team as the 2019 Proton Saga driven by Syafiq Ali and Admi Shahrul crossed the finish line in second place.

Most successful manufacturer in S1K
With a third consecutive and fifth overall S1K victory, Proton has stretched its lead as the most successful manufacturer in the history of the event. It not only reflects on the capabilities of the cars but also the skill, professionalism and teamwork of R3, arguably the leading racing team in Malaysia.

“Being successful in motor racing requires a combination of factors. A manufacturer, for instance, would firstly need the correct models in its range that would be suitable for the job. Even if a suitable model is available, it is difficult to achieve success as the car needs to be developed while the skills of the racing team, from the technicians to the drivers, needs to be finely honed. This requires an investment in time and money and Proton’s success in motorsports is proof our investment in R3, our in-house racing division, is a wise one,” said Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.

Lady drivers impress too
There were three Team Proton R3 entrants for the S1K this year with the third car crewed by an all-female driving team. Nurul Husna and Faye Kusairi were selected from the MSF-R3 Lady Drivers Search that gave aspiring female racers a chance to compete in the S1K race. The lead driver for the team was Leona Chin, Malaysia’s fastest female racer.

A technical issue during qualifying meant the team’s 2019 Proton Saga started the race from 26th on the grid. Despite the early setback, the ladies showed amazing skill and fighting spirit as they carved their way up to seventh overall and first among all lady drivers by the end of the race.

“Our lady drivers performed very well and we are proud of their achievement. By finishing seventh, they have proven their capability to compete in the male dominated arena of motorsports and Proton are proud to have given Malaysian women an opportunity to showcase their talents,” said Dr. Li.

“Win on Sunday, sell on Monday”
The marketing phrase refers to an age-old ethos for car manufacturers who compete in motorsports. By being successful on the track, their products gain an image boost thus helping to improve their performance in the showroom. Additionally, owners also get to feel a sense of pride to be driving a car from the winning brand – especially if it is the same model.

“By winning the S1K for the fifth time in 11 editions, Proton has proven its mastery of the event. A 1,000-km race requires speed as well as reliability and our models have both. What we learn in the heat of competition we then engineer into our products to create better cars. The success of both the 2019 Iriz and 2019 Saga in motorsports helped boost the image of each model and as a result, Iriz sales have increased three-fold while the Saga has achieved over 35,000 bookings since its launch,” Dr. Li revealed.

Want to experience the performance of the latest Proton Iriz and Saga? Visit www.proton.com to locate a showroom near your for a test-drive.

Team Proton R3 takes Malaysian Championship Series title

Renault Sport Track Day returns as a night event at Sepang International Circuit

Following the launch of the new Renault Megane R.S. 280 Cup EDC by TC Euro Cars (TCEC), the Renault Sport Track Day made a comeback with a twist – it was run as a night session at the Sepang International Circuit. During the session, a total of 30 Renault Sports owners tested their personal skills and car performance as they tried to complete as many laps as possible within the allocated time.

With safety being a top priority for TCEC and Renault, only experienced drivers were allowed to drive on the track by themselves while first-time track drivers were accompanied by a professional instructor.

TCEC also conducted a timed run of the Megane R.S. 280 Cup EDC. The new model bettered the previously recorded lap time of the Megane R.S. 265 Cup by 3 seconds – 2:38 vs 2:41.

About the Megane R.S. 280 Cup
Having set a benchmark in the world of high-performance hatchbacks, the Megane R.S. is officially back in Malaysia in its latest form. Available with the Cup chassis, it now comes with a 6-speed automatic Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) transmission. A 6-speed manual transmission is also available as an option.

New features and technologies include the 4CONTROL 4-wheel steering system – a world first-in-segment technology that further improves cornering efficiency; 4 rally-inspired hydraulic compression stops to all shock absorbers; a new 4-cylinder 1.8-litre turbocharged engine that delivers maximum power of 280 ps/390 Nm; and a new Torsen mechanical and limited-slip differential.

Another new feature is the 5-door variant in place of the previous 3-door one. The new signature colour is Orange Tonic but if you don’t like it, you can still ask for the classic Liquid Yellow finish.

The new Megane R.S. 280 with a manual gearbox retails at RM279,888 while the EDC-equipped variant will require RM299,888 (both prices without insurance included). Each new unit from TCEC comes with a 3-year/100,000-km warranty (whichever comes first).

For more information about the new Megane R.S. 280 Cup and other Renault models available in Malaysia, visit www.renault.com.my.

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