As in 2021 with Season 4 of the Vios Challenge, part of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival, the final round of Season 5 will be run at night at the Sepang International Circuit. For this event, a rooftop festival will also be held during the weekend of September 24/25.
While the event will be open to the public (no entry fees), access to the festival on the rooftop of the main paddock building will be limited. To be among them, you will have to register online in advance and passes will be issued to the first 2,000 applicants on a first come-first served basis. Click here for more information on how to get the access passes.
The entire rooftop area of the building will be transformed into a festival ground, with numerous activities for all the family. Fans will be able to meet their favourite celebrities and enjoy concerts on both days. There will also be lucky draws and sale of GAZOO Racing and Toyota merchandise.
2,000 spectators will be able to watch the races from the rooftop of the main building as well as enjoy live concerts.
“We continuously look at new elements to make both the Festival and the race even more exciting. Race fans have been a big part of the festival’s continued success and for the finale this season, we’d like to do something a little special by showing our appreciation to 2,000 of the spectators,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Ravindran K.
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.
“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:
It’s always been an interesting question – does racing on simulators help to develop driving skills? A whole generation has now grown up on sim racing and there are some very skilled racers in the online world who even race against the real-world racers like F1 drivers. What if they are put inside a real racing car… would they be able to perform just as well?
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia and UMW Toyota Motor are finding out with their GR Young Talent Development Program which started last year and the first batch of rookies, most of whom have been racing in the virtual world for many years, are taking to the track this weekend in the first round of the TGR Festival Vios Challenge at the Sepang Racing Circuit.
They have been given training which has been rigorous both physically and mentally, with guidance from veterans like Alex Yoong and Tengku Djan, the latter a champion in the Vios Challenge. The cars are also provided, and all are prepared to have identical performance so it is really down to driver skill and strategy.
Naquib Azlan, one of the rookies, has ‘driven’ thousands of laps around the Sepang International Circuit – in the virtual world – so he is thoroughly familiar with the layout and would have learnt the fastest lines through the turns. However, for the qualifying laps and the real race today and tomorrow, he will be racing only on half the circuit, otherwise known as the North Track.
From his performance, it seems that all those thousands of laps have helped him as he clocked the fastest time in the official practice session of the Vios Challenge. And it’s the first time the 20-year old is doing a saloon car race. He clocked 1 min:26.614 seconds to post the fastest time of the day from a field of 45 racers who included celebrity, amateur and professional drivers, completing a total of 29 laps in official practice and another 20 laps in unofficial practice.
Walking around the circuit to study the surface and the corners is what the professional drivers do, Guiding Naquib and the rookies is Alex Yoong, one of the instructors.
“Yesterday was mainly about getting as much information as I could, especially running on newer tyres, and to prepare the car for today’s race. The main aim was to prepare for this race weekend – no intention of becoming quickest,” said Naquib, who has qualified in pole position on the starting grid with a time of 1:26.012 after completing the Qualifying session.
“It definitely came as a surprise to me to post the fastest time. We (the rookie racers) are sharing the same grid with some of Malaysia’s best drivers – racers like Tengku Djan Ley, Mark Darwin and Hayden Haikal and they are all super quick. I didn’t expect to be the quickest but I believed I had the capability to be close to them and it was nice to do have been able to that…This is my first ever race in real life,” he said.
Naquib agreed that all the hours on a simulator have paid off in being super beneficial in preparing him for his real-world racing debut. In the simulator he has used, it has not been in a Toyota Vios but that has not made a difference as he settled into the racing car provided by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.
UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO Racing Malaysia have been supporting eSports which sees strong participation from sim racers, some of whom can now transition to real-world racing like Naquib.
“In sim you don’t feel anything, unlike the sensation of being in a real racing car. It’s not 100% the same as when driving with the simulator but what you learn in sim in terms of entry speed, how much braking you use, and how early you can be on the throttle definitely translated perfectly for me in real life and really helped me prepare for this weekend. I try to perfect this in sim so that when I jump into a real race car and I have that extra sensation it becomes easier,” Naquib explained.
“Being able to drive to the limit and being on the limit is a skill that is very difficult and that was what I wanted to find. I would add that the Vios is rewarding to drive and I get much confidence even though it is new to me,” he said.
Practice is one thing, the real race, however, can be an entirely a different story. “The way I mentally prepare is I focus on what I have to do for the race. I don’t focus on what the other competitors are doing because this is when you start to get nervous and over-think things. I focus on the job I have to do and what I have to do to achieve the outcome I want – and that job this weekend is to drive fast and win!” he said.
The GR Young Talent Development Program aims to develop the best talents across the country and propel grassroots racing to the pro stage. With guidance, careful and proper nurture, young drivers like Naquib and the other five drivers are now on the journey to becoming a champion.
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.
After almost a year’s absence, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) will start its fourth season at the Sepang International Circuit from on March 27. As in previous years, the highlight is the Vios Challenge and this new season will have 3 rounds for a total of 6 races.
Expanded racing activities
Additionally, GAZOO Racing Malaysia will also make its appearance in the national racing series with the introduction of the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup with a total of 4 races over 2 rounds, and the GAZOO Racing Enduro Cup that will be run in conjunction with the annual Sepang 1000km Endurance Race (S1K).
Rookie class and new celebrities
The Vios Challenge will have of 4 classes which include the inaugural running of the Rookie Class. This class will be made up of 6 new graduates of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program who are stepping up from karting and simulator to racing in a real saloon car for their very first time.
As before, there will also be the popular Promotional Class with local celebrities (three of whom are new faces); the Sporting Class for amateur drivers; and the Super Sporting Class for the veteran and professional drivers.
The three newcomers to the Vios Challenge Promotional Class – (from left) Talitha Tan, Zizan Razak and Ahirine Ahirudin.
Just like professional racing drivers, those in the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program have to undergo rigorous training to be fit and of course, learn driving skills in the Vios from experienced racing drivers.
“It’s exciting to be back racing but as much as we would like to immediately open our doors to race fans for them to be at the venues, the threat of the pandemic has created a new and perhaps even more promising way of reaching an even larger and wider audience. Millions of race fans in Malaysia and even outside the country can catch the action on and off the track during the race weekend via live streaming and in the comfort and safety of their homes,” said TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer, Akio Takeyama, who is also UMW Toyota Motor’s Deputy Chairman.
Live streaming worlwide
Mr. Takeyama was referring to the strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that must be followed and, as with other permitted motorsports events, the TGR Festival must operate under a ‘sports bubble’ for everyone’s protection. This means that Round 1 of the Vios Challenge will be held as a closed-door event and the action will be live-streamed to racing fans throughout Malaysia – and even the world – over the event’s 2 days.
The cars in the Vios Challenge are identical in specifications and preparation, so it is very much driver skill that counts rather than engine power, and this makes for closer racing.
The live streaming will be meticulously-curated, giving viewers an uninterrupted ‘front row seat’ of the Vios Challenge. In fact, it will probably get them ‘closer’ to the action than if they were at the track. ”The challenge before us today is to bring the energy and atmosphere of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival online,” added Mr. Takeyama.
Bringing motorsports to the masses
“The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival has primarily been about bringing motorsports to the masses – this focus has not changed – and to a great extent, we have successfully accomplished this by bringing the races to so many different locations since 2017,” he said.
The live streaming will be broadcast on the UMW Toyota Motor website at toyota.com.my and also at the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook page.
Last year, the sudden and extended period of the Movement Control Order (MCO) affected all evens in Malaysia, forcing cancellations or postponements. Motorsports were no exception and UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) had to cancel the final round of its Vios Challenge one-make series that was to be held at the Sepang International Circuit.
This year, it was hoped that as things improved, the fourth season of the successful series could proceed as planned, with the first of 6 events with 11 races to begin on January 28. Unfortunately, the pandemic has become more severe again in the past few months with new cases at the 4-digit level daily. This has led the government to impose the MCO again with restrictions on movement that include a ban on interstate travel and a maximum range of 10 kms of travel from the home for essential errands.
In view of this situation, UMWT has to postpone the open round of the Vios Challenge, part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival. A new date cannot be provided at this time, especially as there is also a state of Emergency (since January 12, 2021) which will be in effect until August 1, 2021. Although it is not an Emergency like the one that the country experienced during the years fighting communist terrorists, there are still restrictions which are aimed at fighting the acovid-19 pandemic.
“As we collectively continue to help flatten the ‘curve’ of the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize and acknowledge the unprecedented toll that it has inflicted on the nation. The race will and must go on – but not until we can together, successfully mitigate the threat of COVID-19 to ensure the safety of all racers, participating teams, officials, spectators and stakeholders,” said Akio Takeyama, GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer and also UMWT’s Deputy Chairman.
When the situation permits and Season 4 of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival can commence, there will be three individual racing series (Vios Challenge, GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup and GAZOO Racing Enduro Cup) which will provide a total of 11 races.
It has been one of UMWT’s aims to draw a new generation to motorsports with these events and it has been successful in this. There has been growing participation by young racers over the past 3 seasons and many have shown promise. To provide further support, the company has also established a GAZOO Racing School for a Rookie Class in the Vios Challenge.
Additionally, besides track events, UMWT has also had alternative motorsport-related activities in the form of online racing which has been timely in view of the current situation. It was the first local car company to become involved in simulator racing or eSports when it started the Toyota GR Velocity eSports Championship in 2018. Last year’s season saw some 720 participants taking part. The 2020 championship offered more than RM70,000 in total prize money, the most lucrative virtual racing event in Malaysia.
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.
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.
Participants use racing cars with identical engine performance, so it is more about driver skill.
“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.
One of the venues of the third season was unique – the old TUDM airbase (now Bandar Malaysia) in Kuala Lumpur.
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.
Overall winners of the Sporting Class with Tengku Dhan in the middle. Presenting the prizes were Akio Takeyama, TGR Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer (left) and Mohd Shamsor Mohd Zain, Director of Marketing (right).
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.
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.
Champion Shawn Lee (centre) and the other two overall winners in the Promotional Class.
“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.
Sibling camaraderie, not rivalry, is what strengthens the bond between the Anthony brothers Bradley Benedict and Brendan Paul who are competing in the Toyota Vios Challenge street racing series, part of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival that is on in Batu Kwan, Penang, this weekend.
For 18-year old Bradley, this is his debut season competing in saloon cars after moving up from karting while 23-year old Brendan holds the distinction of being Toyota Vios Challenge Sporting Class champion in Season 1 and now competes in the Super Sporting Class for professional drivers. “I used to go to the track a lot to watch my brother compete in karting. I guess that was where the interest started,” said Bradley who ventured into karting in 2016. Last year, he emerged third in the Asian Rotax Max Championship (DD2 class).
Bradley Benedict’s aspiration is to race in the touring car series in Europe, and racing in the Toyota Vios Challenge is helping him gain experience.
Despite making a cautious start in Round 1 of the Toyota Vios Challenge, Bradley was quick to adapt and rose into the top three by Round 2. “I wasn’t as fast in the first round but I gained a lot of experience. I don’t find racing on a street circuit intimidating. In fact, I find it very enjoyable. It’s a solid learning ground for new and young drivers because unlike racing on a permanent circuit, you have to be precise and know how to control the car.”
And is it intimidating at all to have elder brother Brendan competing in the same event? “At the moment, no since we’re competing in different classes. Brendan helps me a lot with the technical tips and I try to get as much information from him as I can,” he replied.
“My being in the Toyota Vios Challenge is also due to a family decision. My dad saw how the event helped to elevate Brendan’s racing and he now wants me to follow the identical path my brother takes. That means also competing in events such as the Malaysian Championship Series, MSF and events like the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race,” Bradley explained. With 8 races in the Toyota Vios Challenge, 12 races in the MCS and another 12 races in the MSF, that means no less than 32 weekends of racing for Bradley throughout the year.
“My aspiration is to race in the touring car series in Europe, which is why I chose to compete in the Toyota Vios Challenge as opposed to choosing a path driving Formula cars when I moved up from karting” Bradley said.
The Toyota Vios Challenge – now in its third season – has been successful in attracting young drivers. It provides them with an affordable and competitive platform to hone their racecraft and technical experience. This should help build up motorsports talent from grassroots level in the country.
