Pusingan kedua Toyota Gazoo Racing 2018 baru sahaja berakhir hujung minggu lepas dimana Aiman Tino muncul sebagai juara di dalam kategori ‘Promotional Class’. Dengan saingan yang sengit dari pelumba lain, Aiman Tino berjaya memiliki podium kedua berturut-turut selepas melintasi garisan penamat di hadapan Akim Ahmad di tempat kedua dan Naib Pengerusi UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, Akio Takeyama di tempat ketiga. (more…)
It was a graduation ceremony of a different kind at the Sepang International Circuit with eight individuals trading academic robes and caps for nomex fire resistant racing suits and helmets as they completed six days of intensive training at the Vios Challenge Racing School en route to becoming certified to compete in the upcoming second season of the Toyota Vios Challenge.
The graduates comprise of six new Malaysian celebrities who will be competing in the Promotional Class and two teenagers who will be making their saloon car racing debut in the Sporting Class. The newcomers to this season’s Toyota Vios Challenge are singers Aiman Tino, Khai Bahar, Nabila Razali, Wany Hasrita, Akim Ahmad and comedian Nabil Ahmad.
“While some of us may have had the experience of sharing the stage with one another, it’s going to be an entirely out of water experience to be racing alongside each other,” said Nabil. Likewise, 26-year-old Wany is also looking forward to her debut as a celebrity racer. “It’s an honour to have been selected by UMW Toyota Motor to become one of four women on the grid and I look forward to the first round,” said Wany.
This season’s race will also see the return of celebrities Shawn Lee who is defending champion in the Promotional Class, and fellow artistes Diana Danielle, Janna Nick and Syukri Yahaya who had also completed a refresher course. The outstanding performances of Lee and Syukri last year however, will see both celebrities upgraded to compete in the Sporting Class.
For former child actor and beatboxer Shawn Lee said the experience from competing in the first season of the Toyota Vios Challenge has been both exciting and challenging. “Returning as defending champion, the expectations are certainly higher. Season 1 was an extremely steep learning curve for me, and I am sure for all the other celebrities on the grid as well, but the refresher course has enabled me to enhance my car control, speed and intuitiveness behind the wheel,” said Lee.
“Like everything else, practice makes perfect and although I endured a rough start to the season, my performance, confidence and consistency gradually increased…With the four of us (including Shawn, Janna and Syukri) returning for a second season, there’s really no excuse not to gun for a top three finish this time round,” said Diana.
The Toyota Vios Challenge will anchor the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival organised by UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd and features some 40 identically race-prepared vehicles competing in three classifications: Promotional Class, Sporting Class and Super Sporting Class (for elite and professional race drivers). The Sporting Class will see the participation of two talented 14-year-olds and former karting team mates Mohamed Hayden Mohamad Haikal and Oscar Ng Kok Tung.
“When I race, I like to push the limits to do better and better. The Toyota Vios Challenge has provided me with a new set of challenges as it is a different type of racing compared to karting. There’s a lot for me to learn, different techniques, different challenges. I’m thrilled to have been given the chance to race with well-known racers and celebrities. All this really excites me,” said Mohamed Hayden.
Meanwhile, for young Oscar, stepping up into saloon car racing will be following in the footsteps of his father Ng Wai Leong, a former national karter and single-seater race car driver. “The principles of racing remain unchanged, but it’s an entirely new experience piloting a full-sized saloon car with a manual transmission as opposed to driving a kart, and something I’ve got to quickly come to terms in order to be competitive,” he said.
Managed by Wing Hin Motorsports under the supervision of Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Japan, the Vios Challenge Racing School had put the drivers through six days of intensive training. It included a one-day theory session on the principles of defensive driving, vehicle technology, driving attitude and behaviour, and emergency braking and avoidance techniques.
The drivers subsequently spent another five days on track at the Sepang International Circuit where they were taught the principles of racing, understanding track rules and regulations, how to execute a proper gear change (yes, all the cars are fitted with manual transmission) including the heel and toe technique, racing lines and how to enter and exit corners, as well as the proper technique and threshold of braking.
The racing cars are also prepared under the supervision by Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Japan, with the race run to regulations governed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM). While the cars take after the base model Toyota Vios 1.5, it is fitted with a full roll cage for safety, and equipped with race-worthy modifications that include aerodynamics, suspension system, exhaust, brakes, clutch, a limited slip differential and tyres.
“The first season of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and the running of the Toyota Vios Challenge have been absolutely phenomenal from both a promotional and commercial perspective,” said UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd President, Ravindran K.
“In line with the company’s tagline All About the Drive, both the festival and the Vios Challenge successfully promoted the merits of the brand and this commercially translated into an increase in sales, particularly for the Vios. It visibly demonstrated the Vios’ competitiveness, reliability, durability, safety and agility, propositions that may have otherwise been taken for granted by consumers in search of a mid-sized entry level or family sedan. Like we say, it’s All About the Drive and in order to truly appreciate what the car is capable of, you have to first get behind the wheel of a Vios!” he added.
While most of the action and competitive driving takes place on a specially-built street circuit on the grounds of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Terengganu, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival is a carnival in itself providing members of the public with a myriad of activities that include an elaborate display of Toyota’s fleet of new vehicles, stage games, promotional activities, lucky draws and a Superfans Signing Session for a chance to mingle with the celebrity drivers.
“Kuala Terengganu is going to be special as it will not only be the opening race of the season but it will also be the festival’s visit to the East Coast, and we’re looking forward to the warm hospitality and extraordinary spectator support Terengganu is well known for,’ said Ravindran. The Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival kicks off from 9am on Friday (3 August 2018) to Saturday (4 August 2018), and entrance is free!
From Kuala Terengganu, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival will move to the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) in Serdang, Selangor on 19-21 October 2018; the Batu Kawan Stadium in Penang from 22-24 February 2019; with the finale being contested at the Sepang International Circuit on 12-14 April 2019.
The inaugural Vios Challenge season reached its climactic finale in Technology Park Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur on 24th and 25th March 2018, bringing with it the thrills and excitement that Malaysians seldom witness on their home soil.
It had been touted as one of the most ambitious racing projects to be undertaken by a single car company but the initiative to introduce grassroots racing to the masses has been exceptionally successful judging by the crowds that came to the event in KL last weekend as well as in the earliest rounds in Batu Kawan, Penang, MAEPS, Serdang and in Medini City, Johor.
The Vios Challenge is the focal point of the weekend where some 40 identically-built Toyota Vios race in three classifications namely Sporting, Super Sporting and Promotional. It is the integral part of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival where exciting and fun activities such as celebrity appearances, stage games, drift performances, car displays, carnival food and lots more are part of the draw to get families on a weekend outing.
“The Vios Challenge was aimed at bringing motor racing closer to Malaysians. We wanted everyone to appreciate motor racing in a fun yet safe environment and to make it a weekend outing for the whole family. Judging from the happy expressions of the crowds at each venue, I believe we have successfully brought an appealing event to everyone,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor Mr. Ravindran K.
Attendance at each venue has averaged over 21,000 spectators per weekend, making it one of the most popular locals Motorsport events in recent history. Undoubtedly, the quality of racing has been top notch, not only from the crème de la crème Super Sporting class but also from the Sporting and the Promotional classes that have given everyone lots to cheer from the get-go.
The drivers in the Promotional class in particular may have brought their star appeal to the event but their on-track performance has been nothing short of impressive. Shukri Yahaya for instance, is better known for his roles in blockbuster TV dramas. Yet by the final race in the TPM, his lap times in qualifying could have placed him on the second row of the Sporting class grid while actress Diana Danielle, a mother of two who confessed to forgetting how to drive a manual car during her racing school stint, would have made it into the top 10 of the same grid.
“This was our hope when we brought the concept to Malaysia. We wanted to expose motor racing to new participants and allow them to build on their own abilities; making them better racers and better drivers on the road,” said Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Mr. Akio Takeyama.
Mr. Takeyama would be the most qualified to speak on the matter as he himself strapped into a Toyota Vios every race weekend and battled it out with his fellow competitors in the Promotional class. Despite have no racing background, his race craft and car handling at the end of the season has made him a true competitor.
Beatboxing sensation Shawn Lee continued on his winning ways and claimed the series in his Promotional class, suffering only two losses throughout the eight races. However, it was a fellow drift driver in the Super Sporting class Tengku Djan who kept motor racing aficionados on the edge of their seats each time he took to the track.
Djan’s on-track antics and amazing car control was a sight to behold although the hard-charging William Ho made him work very hard for the title. The story of the series must be that of the young sensation Brandon Paul Anthony. The 20-year-old had previously never raced in a Toyota Vios and joined the series only in the second event in MAEPS. He then stormed up the ladder to seal his championship with a flourish in the TPM.
There was plenty of unpolished gems that emerged throughout the season and come the later half of 2018, some others may emerge when Season 2 of the Vios Challenge takes to the circuits.
Yup, FIFTY proud new owners took delivery of their brand-spanking-new Toyota CH-R in a special ceremony / partayyyyy recently organised by UMW Toyota Motor.
The event was held at Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) , the venue for the final round of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Series being held this weekend of 24-25 March 2018 (details on that here).
Here’s a quick look at the CH-R (Compact High Rider) during its maiden public debut during the MAEPS Malaysia Auto Show thanks to EVO Aurizn:
Speaking at the function, Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor said, the delivery to the first 50 customers in Malaysia also mark the official introduction of the All New Toyota C-HR.
“Since being previewed last year, interest in the All New Toyota C-HR has been high. To date, we have received around 1,500 bookings for the model and because this is a unique model, we wanted to personally handover the vehicle to our first 50 customers,” he said.
“We are always grateful for the support given by our customers and they can be assured the best Toyota ownership experience with maintenance and services from fully trained technicians on the C-HR but also availability of replacements parts when needed. Furthermore, only with Toyota models sold by UMW Toyota Motor and its authorised dealers, they can enjoy a 5 years warranty with unlimited mileage,” Ravindran added.
Since its global debut, the All New Toyota C-HR has been a hit in every market that it has been launched in. Apart from its obvious looks, the model sits on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform which is being used for many new Toyota models.
For the Malaysian market, the C-HR is introduced with one variant, a 1.8-litre petrol engine with 7-speed Sequential Shiftmatic CVT. Its safety features include ABS as standard with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) as well as Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and a Blind Spot Monitoring system (BSM). The C-HR is also equipped with an Electric Parking Brake and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards while moving on a steep slope.
The interior design concept is a departure from the conventional approaches and combines high-tech functionality with fashionable style. The driver-oriented area incorporates innovative details and intuitive technology with sharp and clear Optitron meters and a 4.2-inch Colour Multi-Information Display (MID) that keeps the driver informed of the vehicle’s operation. For enthusiast drivers, there’s also a G-monitor which shows the G-force exerted by the vehicle during cornering, acceleration or deceleration.
For the official price list, click this: C-HR 2018
Toyota CH-R Handover Partayyyyy Photo Gallery….
The inaugural Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival is building up to a climactic finale as the championship crown in each of the Vios Challenge categories remain up for grabs until the chequered flag is waved for the final time this season at the Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) in Kuala Lumpur.
The decider that will be held on March 24th and 25th will see all three class races of the Vios Challenge go down to the wire as the search continues for the very first champions of the series. You can read our previous coverage of the TGR Johor Bahru Round here.
“The essence of one-make racing has been reflected in the results we see today in the Vios Challenge. Newcomers, privateers and seasoned professionals have all had their share of the spoils in the winner’s circle, providing motor racing fans with some of the best high-quality racing we’ve seen in the country,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor Mr Ravindran K.
The battles in the Sporting and Super Sporting classes will be the most keenly watched with numerous drivers in contention for bragging rights as well as a shot at the brand new Toyota Vios that is being offered as the champion’s prize for each category.
Nineteen-year-old sensation Brendan Anthony who did not join the first race in Batu Kawan, Penang has consistently chalked up points in his subsequent races and is now just four points behind the sporting class championship leader and namesake Brendon Lim.
Rally sensation Kenneth Koh managed to stay out of trouble in the third Vios Challenge event held in Medini City, Johor in January has scored two useful podium finishes. He is a mere 12 points off the leader’s tally of 75 points. With 20 points awarded for a win, Koh has every chance of snatching the trophy from the Anthony and Lim.
In the Super Sporting Class, Tengku Djan survived various incidents in both his races at Medini City, Johor to hold a slender four-point lead in the championship over nemesis William Ho.
William also enjoyed a good run in Johor as he came away with one win and a third place, moving him up to second with 72 points. Third in the class is M7 Racing Team’s Syafiq Ali who put in some brilliant performances in Johor and sits 16 points behind Djan.
In the Promotional Class, Shawn Lee chalked up wins in almost every race except for one in MAEPS. While he enjoys a commanding lead in the series, he could still be overhauled by the on-form Shukri Yahaya who trails by 18 points. A non-finish in any of the final races by the beat-boxer would easily level any advantage he currently enjoys.
Despite facing less pressure to prove their worth as racing drivers, celebrities including Danny Koo, Diana Danielle, Fattah Amin, Geraldine Gan, Janna Nick, Shukri Yahaya and Venice Min have all shown renewed determination in Johor. Their on-track challenges have shown no lack of quality and can be expected to spoil the party for Shawn.
Entrance to the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival’s Season 1 Finale remains free and there will be lots of activities, food, games and prizes throughout the weekend. To keep up to date on the developments of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival and the Vios Challenge, members of the public should follow Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia and UMW Toyota Motor on their homepage, FB and instagram. Check out the Drift Show at the JB round in January!
Talk about starting the year on a high-note! Muhammad Haye Nafiqi bin Saidin probably never expected it, but he was picked as the lucky visitor and won himself a brand-new Toyota Vios SE, at the Toyota Gazoo Racing event in JB over the weekend.
By correctly answering a few questions during the event in MAEPS, Serdang and submitting his entry for the draw, Haye became the new proud owner of car worth over RM85,000.00.
“I have always dreamed of owning a Vios but never in my dreams did I imagine I would win one. I went to watch the Vios Challenge because I enjoy watching motor racing and together with some friends, we went to see Fattah Amin race. A couple of weeks later, I received a call from someone in UMW Toyota Motor telling me that I won the car. I am just so happy. It is perfect timing for me too because I will be getting married soon and will get to use the Vios as my wedding car,” said the proud 27-year old technician (above, left).
Muhammad Haye who hails from Selangor, travelled to Medini City in Johor for this weekend’s Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival to catch all the action and to receive his prize that was presented by the Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor Mr Akio Takeyama during the event (main image, centre).
Another Toyota Vios SE will be available for visitors to the recently concluded Medini City Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival and the winner will be announced once all the entries have been verified by auditors.
Here are the dynamic duo of identical Toyota 86 Toyo Drift Cars performing at the on-going Toyota Gazoo Racing event at Madini City in Johor Bahru!
The first Celebrity Race at the on-going Toyota Gazoo Racing event at Bandar Medini, Iskandar Puteri in Johor Bahru has just ended and here’s the post race interview session!
This is how it should be, FUN! Congrats to Shawn Lee on taking the win! More action to come, so stay tuned, or better yet, join us here tomorrow!
The Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival makes it way to Medini City in Iskandar Puteri, Johor this weekend 19th to 21st January, and brings with it a totally immersing experience with non-stop motor racing action, A-list celebrity activities and impressive prizes including a brand new Toyota Vios Sports Edition that will be presented to a lucky visitor.
Having thrilled crowds in Penang and Kuala Lumpur with total attendance of 50,000 visitors, the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival is expected to attract a sizeable crowd in Medini City on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th January 2018, particularly as the excitement of the Vios Challenge continues to develop with great intensity.
With the championships in mid season and no runaway winner in sight, the duels are beginning to heat up in all three categories where some of the top racing drivers will be competing. Spectators can expect a thrilling weekend of racing on the street circuit that features one of the longest straights of the championship and a hairpin turn, promising lots of overtaking action.
One such race category that fans will definitely be keen to catch will be the Promotional Class where celebrity racers Fattah Amin, Shukri Yahaya, Diana Danielle, Janna Nick, Geraldine Gan, Danny Koo, Venice Min and Shawn Lee will be battling it out for glory. Shukri Yahaya took a popular win in the last event in MAEPS Serdang and he will be out to bring the battle to Shawn once again.
For celebrity watchers, it will be a starry event in Medini as apart from the eight racing celebrities, Media Prima’s Drama Sangat bus tour celebrities including Nazrief Nazri, Intan Najwa, Adiba Yunos, Aishah Azman, Raja Afiq, Ruhainies, Zie Zainal and Aliff Yasraff will be at the event meeting fans and giving away prizes and souvenirs during their meet and greet sessions.
The young at heart will also not be forgotten as superhero Ejen Ali and Comot will be making appearances throughout the weekend.
There will be lots of prizes and souvenirs to be given away throughout the weekend but the biggest prize will be a Toyota Vios Sports Edition that is being offered as the grand prize in the lucky draw.
Fans of Toyota cars will further be treated with a showcase of the latest models including the 2018 Toyota Vios and the show-stealing C-HR that remains one of the biggest attractions everywhere it goes. There will be test drives of most Toyota models as well.
Be sure to catch the stunt performance of Japanese World Champion drifters Masato Kawabata and Drift Samurai, Takahiro Imamura who will be out to thrill, performing their brilliant drift shows in a pair of Toyota 86 drift cars.
In keeping with UMW Toyota Motor’s efforts to promote healthy, safe and wholesome activities, the race track at the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival in Johor will be open for an hour to cyclists who register on Saturday morning, allowing them an opportunity to experience the circuit in a safe and controlled manner.
Another attraction of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival in Medini City is the presence of some of the region’s top food trucks from Johor including Brader Doug, Tacoloco, Salys Streetfood, Aromorasa to name a few.
Entrance to the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival is free and activities begin from 9am daily stretching till 6.30pm. For the latest developments, event information and everything about the Vios Challenge, visit the homepage Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia, follow the Insta page or like the Facebook page.
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