UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has officially unveiled the much-anticipated all-new Toyota Alphard and Vellfire models, setting a new benchmark for advanced features and providing a sophisticated and technologically advanced travel experience.
The Toyota Alphard and Vellfire have raised the bar in the competitive MPV segment by offering a plethora of cutting-edge features that distinguish them from the competition. From seamlessly integrated state-of-the-art technology to spacious and versatile interiors, these models redefine the driving experience. The introduction of turbocharging paired with a new gearbox has resulted in a significant boost in torque and power, promising an exhilarating and engaging performance for drivers.
Both models strike a perfect balance between efficiency and elegance. Advanced engineering, including the all-new 2.4L 16-valve DOHC with turbocharger and intercooler, ensures top-notch performance without compromising on luxury for the Alphard and makes 274hp and 430Nm of torque. The Toyota Vellfire, in particular, boasts enhanced performance output with the Front Performance Brace, improved handling, and impeccable stability. An existing 2.5-litre, four-cylinder 2AR-FE engine with 179hp and 235Nm of torque powers the Vellfire.
Stepping into the interior cabin of the Alphard and Vellfire is akin to experiencing a private jet. The combination of leather and woodgrain finishes, along with two fixed Panoramic Glass Roofs that flood the cabin with natural light, creates an atmosphere of opulence. The driver’s cockpit is thoughtfully designed for easy access to mechanical switches and controls. First-row passengers, both front and rear, can indulge in the comfort of Seat Heater and Ventilation features. The Alphard Executive Lounge takes luxury a step further, featuring an exclusive massage function in the rear first-row seats.
Equipped with advanced Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 technology, which includes enhanced Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, Road Sign Assist, and Adaptive High-beam System, safety remains a top priority without compromising the luxurious experience.
Both models are available in four exquisite colors: Platinum White Pearl, Precious Metal, Precious Leo-Blond (exclusive to the Alphard), and Black. To ensure peace of mind and freedom of mobility, the All-New Alphard and Vellfire come with a full 5-year warranty. UMWT serves as the exclusive distributor with official sales and service, offering trusted service and parts guarantees.
With over 74 Sales Service dealers nationwide, premium end-to-end servicing is assured, with dedicated body and paint centres also available. The Toyota Alphard 2.4T Executive Lounge is priced at RM 538,000 without insurance, while the Toyota Vellfire 2.5 is available at RM 438,000 without insurance.
UMW Toyota Motor maintained its market dominance in June, earning remarkable sales figures of 8,559 units for Toyota and 110 units for Lexus. Toyota and Lexus combined total sales for June 2023 reached 8,669 units, exceeding the 8,004 units reported in May 2023.
Year-to-date sales for June 2023 have shown excellent growth, with a total of 48,659 units sold. This result indicates a strong 6.0% increase over the 45,911 units sold year to date in June 2022.
Another major highlight for the month of June was the unveiling of the highly anticipated all-new Toyota Innova Zenix, featuring both Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) models. This introduction was a big step forward in the company’s persistent commitment to carbon-neutrality and sustainability.
The popular Innova line, which was initially one of the models created under the Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicle (IMV) programme, is enhanced by the brand-new Toyota Innova Zenix, an all-new MPV.
The designers abandoned the previous IMV strategy used for the Innova in favour of a completely new design that is still part of the Innova family but bears the moniker “Zenix” to differentiate it as the flagship model.
It will be available in two versions:
Innova Zenix 2.0 V (8-seater) with a 2-litre Dynamic Force petrol engine and CVT
Innova Zenix 2.0 HEV (7-seater) with a Toyota Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) drivetrain
Exterior
The all-new Zenix is more spacious although its dimensions are not much different from the previous model – the Innova CG. The new Innova Zenix offers 20 mm more length and 15 mm more width, 100 mm extra length in the wheelbase, and a similar overall height.
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has made a global commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, in support the Paris Agreement. As its products are sold in 204 countries and regions around the world, its affiliates also support the commitment in various ways to reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions to an industry-leading level.
In Malaysia, apart from various initiatives that promote practical and sustainable reduction in CO2 emissions, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn. Bhd. (UMWT) and UMW Holdings Berhad (UMW) also carry out other activities. A recent example was a tree planting programme hosted by the Malaysian Nature Society at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. The programme is part of UMW’s Green Shoots Initiative (UGS) in conjunction with the National 100 million Tree-Planting Campaign 2020-2025 which has the theme “Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life”.
The event was led by Faraed Mohd Sharif, Director of Customer First Group together with UMWT management, UMW CSR team, UMWT staff and students from Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah, Sungai Lang. Together, they planted 1,500 mangrove saplings of the Bakau Kurap or Rhizophora Mucronata species within the mangrove swamp forest.
The 80 participants were taken on an ecology walk through parts of the 296-hectare wide Kuala Selangor Nature Park to learn about the importance of mangroves to the environment and coastal communities. They were also exposed to a seedling and germination demonstration, while learning about the four families of mangroves and 13 different species of mangrove trees.
Greenhouse gas emissions like CO2 are a major cause of climate change issues and a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tonnes of CO2 per year. Mangrove forests can help mitigate the effects of climate change as they act as huge carbon sinks which are able to sequester two to four times more carbon than mature rainforests, in addition to helping shore up our coastlines and reduce the impact of severe flooding while supporting the biodiversity of the area.
Recognising this, UMW and UMWT have planted close to 40,000 trees to date with almost 50% being mangrove trees, in their journey towards offsetting CO2 emissions and realising their Zero Carbon goals by committing to planting some 300,000 trees over the next two years.
“Our initiatives contribute to climate resilience while cementing Toyota’s global commitment towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 through activities that offset CO2 emissions. We have also integrated the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as part of our operations as a guideline to help us reach carbon neutrality,” said Encik Faraed. “Moving forward, we are focused on providing ‘Mobility For All’, by supporting the creation of more independent, safe and eco-friendly mobility solutions in line with Toyota’s local mass manufacturing plans towards a ‘Clean, Safe and Secure Society.”
Solar panels at the ASSB factory in Selangor are used to provide electricity for operations.
Hybrid electric vehicle technology in the Toyota Corolla Cross is one approach to achieving carbon neutrality which is practical for Malaysia.
“UMW Toyota Motor will continue our active participation with sustainable tree planting activities in two more locations this year as part of the UMW Green Shoots Initiative to inspire more environmental conservation and restoration works within communities as we take steps toward investing in nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration,” he added.
UMWT places high priority on environmental conservation, hence, the company sets a target to achieve CO2 reduction from logistics activities and its assembly facility, as guided by the Toyota environmental action plan, through the installation of 2MW solar panels. The introduction of locally-assembled models with hybrid electric vehicle technology is another initiative towards carbon neutrality.
Toyota Eco Youth Programme has been helping develop strong eco-values and leadership skills among secondary school students since 2001.
The company’s environmental CSR efforts include its Toyota Eco Youth Programme, a collaboration between UMWT and the Ministry of Education that has been run annually since 2001. Through this program, the future generation of youths in secondary schools can develop strong eco-values and leadership skills.
Up till the 1980s, Malaysian motorsports saw a regular flow of youngsters keen on racing or rallying. It was a natural progression in the sport as new blood would periodically be introduced and develop their skills, often with guidance from the veterans. However, as the cost of cars and racing became more expensive, new blood was slow in coming and while Malaysia could boast of being a host country for Formula 1, little was done to really help at grassroots level to develop future generations of racing drivers.
This situation was noticed by UMW Toyota Motor which had started the Vios Challenge as a one-makes series to draw newcomers to the sport. As a further step, the company, together with GAZOO Racing, started a Young Talent Development Program in 2020. It was not exactly the best time to start it, given the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic then. But the program got started and the rookies received training, while adhering to the SOPs specified by the Health Ministry.
The first batch of rookies (front row) in the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program which began in 2020.
Since then, two groups have graduated from the program and it has proven to have a profound impact with several of its rookie drivers quickly rising to be noticed in the top ranks of Malaysian motorsports.
Naquib Azlan, a graduate of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program, came from a background in sim racing and has done remarkably well in real-world racing in the Vios Challenge.
In Round 2 of the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup over the weekend, 16-year-old Putera Adam raced to a double race win, with his partner and veteran racer Eddie Liew in the #61 Laser Motor Racing Vios. The weekend also saw sterling performances by Naquib Azlan and Mika Hakimi, also from the first batch like Putera Adam. Both Putra and Naquib also went on to score podium finishes in the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) also held over the weekend. Others from the program who competed included the current season’s Rookie Class drivers Nabil Azlan and Sharique Zulqarinain, and 2021 Rookie Class graduate Jwan Hii.
“It’s incredible to see how much and how quickly these young drivers have evolved. We are equally proud that many have also gone on to compete and are enjoying success in other events beyond the Vios Challenge and Vios Sprint Cup one-make series where they have trained so hard to develop their driving and racecraft,” said UMW Toyota Motor President. Ravindran K.
Commenting on the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup, he said: “The two-driver and one-hour format has brought a different dimension to what we and the drivers have been used to in 5 seasons of the Vios Challenge one-make race. It’s exciting to watch… it’s unpredictable… and it fulfils one very important objective that is to have elite and experienced working alongside amateur and young drivers with the hope that they will be able to impart their knowledge to the next generation of drivers.”
Held in conjunction with the Malaysia Championship Series, the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup consisted of 2 rounds with 4 individual races. It was only open to Toyota Vios cars prepared to specific regulations and each car had to have two drivers. The total prize money amounted to RM60,000 for the weekend.
The GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup is run independently of the Vios Challenge but retains the format of a one-make series whereby competitors drive identical race-prepared Toyota Vios with stock standard engine and transmission, as well as suspension, tyres and fuel. This means that the emphasis is on racecraft, driving skills and experience rather than being just a ‘power game’ where the team with a lot of financial resources can develop a powerful car.
In the fourth and final running of the GAZOO Racing Sprint Cup, Putera and Liew rounded up a perfect weekend in rather precarious conditions with back-to-back victories. The race began with no rain, unlike the day before, although there was an overcast sky around the Sepang International Circuit. As race got underway, it began to drizzle which made track conditions extremely slippery and unpredictable in certain sections.
The race was essentially 18-year-old Mika’s to win, having taken over driving duties from his teammate Tengku Djan Ley in the #61 Prima Pearl TD Racing Vios, with Liew pouncing hard just 0half a second behind, and Toyotsu Racing’s William Ho in third place.
Heavy rain descended on the race with just 2 laps remaining, and the pressure to defend his lead seemed to have gotten the better of Mika who aquaplaned off the track. This allowed Liew, Ho and Prima Pearl TD Racing’s second car, the #12 with Mitchell Cheah, through. Mika fought his way back on to the track rejoining in fourth position but made a second and same mistake on the final lap in the very same corner to eventually finish fifth behind Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang.
The last lap of the race had been equally nerve-wrecking for Liew who, in the heavy rain, had to fend off Ho who was left dragging his rear bumper for several laps after a botched overtaking manoeuvre much earlier.
“Today I really utilized all my experience to drive in the dry, wet and then heavy rain. It was a difficult race,” said 48-year-old Liew. For Putera who started the race for the pair, a slow getaway dropped him to as far back as 10th despite starting from sixth position. Commenting on his partnership with Liew and the vast difference in age, Putera said: “It’s an honour to drive with Eddie. He’s a very good driver and he used to drive with my dad.”
The second day of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Racing Festival) saw an even larger crowd turning up to watch the second half of Round 2 of the Vios Challenge one-make series. After not having had a chance to be at the trackside for the past two years (due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions), thousands of fans and spectators turned up at the Sepang Circuit today to enjoy the sights and sounds of what has come to be called the ‘People’s Race’.
To start off the day, the early arrivals – including families with children – had a chance to get onto the circuit for an ‘All Wheel Fest’. In some of the past TGR Racing Festival events, there have been runs around the track on Sunday mornings but this time, it was on wheels…. any kind of wheels. There were bicycles, push scooters, roller blades, skateboards and some still chose to use their own two legs. This was followed by a Zumba session to heighten the energy.
Following the official ceremony to mark the TGR Racing Festival, with all the racing cars and participants on the starting grid, spectators were able to do a grid walkabout to see the various teams preparing their cars and to meet the drivers.
Super Sporting Class
After a procession around the course, which uses half the Sepang International Circuit, it was time for the serious activities to start – the racing, with the Super Sporting Class for veteran and professional drivers. As the cars started to line up, rain came down and as it was quite heavy, the Race Director decided to delay the start of the 20-lap race for 25 minutes.
It then got underway but with the Safety Car (a Toyota Camry) at the front. Under racing regulations, when the Safety Car is ahead, racing is suspended and the cars must maintain their positions in a convoy behind. They followed the Safety Car around for 2 laps and then, with the rain having ended, the Safety Car pulled in and off shot the racers on the wet track.
M7 Japan Project Team’s Mohammed Fariqe Hairuman, an experienced international racer, made the best of his pole position to lead the fiercely-contested front pack. No less than 6 drivers were on his tail and after 2 laps, Mohammed Fariqe lost his lead to Axle Motorsport’s Hayden Haikal with Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin in tow.
With the lead exchanging hands between the two drivers several times over the next 10 laps, there was lots of excitement to keep spectators on their feet as they waited to see which car would come round the turn in the lead. But they did not know that Prima Pearl TD Racing’s Tengku Djan was the fastest driver going round on almost every lap. Gradually, he moved up from the 12th position he had started from to shoot past both Darwin and Hayden, winning the race by 1.5 seconds.
“It was a very difficult race for sure, especially with so many of us fighting to get ahead of the pack. For wet driving, what is important is the finesse and to have a good understanding of the track conditions. Sepang is a very challenging track… the conditions can vary so much and the racing lines that we normally take can be extremely slippery therefore forcing a driver to explore new racing lines to get around the corner,” said Tengku Djan.
Having missed the first 2 races of the season due to COVID-19 and then bad luck with an incident in the early stages of the race yesterday, Tengku Djan will only have 3 more races remaining in Season 5 to keep his overall Super Sporting Class title which he has won 3 times.
“I have to be optimistic. When I missed Round 1, I knew it will be difficult to contend for the championship. But I have team mate Mitchell Cheah and therefore I’m definitely going to be working with him to make sure he has a fair chance at the championship,” he said.
The two important vehicles in motorsport – the Safety Car (above) which was the latest Toyota Camry, and the Medical Car (below), which was a Toyota Fortuner.
Rookie Class
In the Rookie Class, Muhammad Hamdany took his first ever race victory to retain his sterling record of 4 podium finishes in 4 races so far. The 19-year-old karter from Kuching finished ahead of simulator racer Nabil Azlan, and the only female driver in the Vios Challenge series, Adele Lew who came in third.
“I was so worried before the start and I changed the set-up of the car which included readjusting tyre pressures (due to the rain). I’m extremely happy everything worked out well and I was able to finish in P1,” said Muhammad Hamdany.
For Adele, the third-place finish marked her first ever podium finish. The 20-year old would have received much coaching and encouragement from her father, Eddie Lew, who is one of the veteran drivers in the Super Sporting Class.
“I’m extremely happy with my first podium. It was a wet race and this was also my first ever experience racing in these conditions. I had to do some defending at the start of the race but I managed to steer clear of any incidents and maintained my position for 14 laps,” said Adele, who is in the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program.
Sporting Class
The Sporting Class for amateur drivers also provided the spectators with a lot of excitement, Axle Motorsport’s Naquib Azlan ( a graduate of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program) concluded a perfect race weekend with 2 race wins. Finishing second and perhaps the biggest surprise of the weekend was 23 Motors’ Abdul Miqail, followed by M7 Japan Project Team’s Ahmad Tarmimi Tahang.
Starting from sixth position on the grid following a reverse grid format after yesterday’s victory, Naquib was on a very determined charge from the startline, taking control of the race lead and building a 5-second gap from as early as the third lap of the 20-lap race.
“I’m very happy with how this weekend went. I came in with very high expectations this weekend, wanting to rectify the mistakes of Round 1 and thankfully I was able to rectify that with two wins,” said Naquib, who gained part of his racing skill on simulators. “It was however, never going to be straight forward, because carrying a weight penalty of 35-kg meant it would be difficult especially starting sixth. It then became a matter of how to get pass everyone else and fortunately, Abdul Miqail and I were able to do this quite quickly in the first lap. Overall, I am really happy and the competition was super tough,” he added.
Ahmad Tarmimi was also the biggest gainer, climbing from ninth to third place, but the highlight of the race was certainly the performance by 16-year-old Abdul Miqail who also finished on the podium twice in two races this weekend. “I am very grateful to have been able to do my best for the team and in the process improved on my own driving. It was a good weekend,” he said.
Standing in the sun and rain, the Marshalls are also an important part of every race. They ensure that the drivers are warned of any dangers and signal important messages with their flags.
Promotional Class
The Promotional Class, which is only for the celebrities, has always been a favourite of spectators, many of whom are fans of the celebrities. Though a few of them have racing experience, all received special training to prepare them for the events.
They are proficient drivers and have learnt the fundamentals of racing but still provide lots of drama on the track. Today’s race had predictions of actors Zizan Razak and Shukri Yahaya easily winning the 18-lap race as they had done yesterday. Being the race favourite, Zizan was eyeing a second race win and had held on to the lead for much of the race until a technical issue with his transmission forced him to concede 5 places with 3 laps left to go.
Shukri was the first to take full advantage of his misfortune, but would later suffer a similar fate which promoted television host Nabil Ahmad to race leader. And with 2 laps to go, singer Wany Hasrita and actress Janna Nick pushed past Zizan and Shukri to move into second and third positions, respectively.
Finishing fourth was singer Nabila Razali, while Shukri and Zizan crossed the line in fifth and sixth positions, respectively. TV personality Ahirine Ahirudin actually posted quick laps times but could only manage seventh place ahead of TV host Ain Edruce. Singer Khai Bahar had a disappointing race weekend as he never made it to the finish line.
“This is my first podium finish in two seasons. I started from pole position and sitting there waiting for the green starting lights to come on, I prayed for good race. It was indeed a very good race and I am extremely thankful, despite facing numerous challenges on the track from going off the track, accidentally hitting and being hit by others,” said an elated Janna.
Nevertheless when the racing was over, it was time for a different type of high-energy performance – a live concert. Popular Indonesian singer Judika was on stage as a special treat for fans, along with local rock group Bunkface (on Saturday). Throughout the weekend, there were many different activities to keep everyone occupied and having a good time.
“We would like to thank all the spectators and fans who came to the TGR Racing Festival. The enthusiasm and the level of excitement we witnessed has certainly motivated us to now begin planning for a more exciting Round 3 and Season 5 finale for them in September,” said UMW Toyota Motor President Ravindran K.
After 2 years of having the event restricted only to participants due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Racing Festival) returns this weekend with all the excitement and fun that visitors have enjoyed since starting in 2017. For now, UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO Racing Malaysia seem to be using only the Sepang International Circuit whereas, in the past, purpose-built ‘street circuits’ were created in Penang and Kuala Terengganu. Perhaps rounds outside the Klang Valley will resume in the next season when, hopefully, the situation allows for less restrictions.
The TGR Racing Festival this weekend incorporates Round 2 of the Vios Challenge one-make series and as with other rounds, there are two races – on Saturday and Sunday. Over 5 years, the number of participants has greatly expanded, achieving one aim of having the series which is to draw new blood into motorsport. By making it more accessible and also with the support of Toyota dealers who have formed teams, many young racers now have an opportunity to develop their skills and go further.
Mohammed Fariqe Hairuman of the M7 Japan Project Team, joining the Vios Challenge for the first time, likes the format of the TGR Racing Festival. The international touring car driver sees the one-make format and presence of the Rookie and Sporting Classes for young and new drivers as being a game-changer.
““This is the best thing about the Vios Challenge. It is a series that requires minimal cost to participate in compared to other racing series in Malaysia whereby a sizeable investment goes into building a competitive car. With a one-make format, this cost is significantly reduced making it accessible to more enthusiasts,” he said.
“For newcomers – like someone who is transitioning from karting – the Vios Challenge is an ideal platform to start. For the same individual to compete in another series, it will definitely come down to a money game because it is expensive,” he added.
Laser Motor Racing and Super Sporting Class driver Mark Darwin also commended the TGR Festival’s concept of bringing racing to the people and in growing motorsports awareness in Malaysia. “The biggest difference with the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival/Vios Challenge series is that, in the past, it was we (as racers) who have to go to the crowd instead of having the crowd come to see the races. It has never been as easy task to bring spectators to a racing track, but the concept of a festival has certainly been able to attract them,” said Darwin.
The Vios Challenge has 4 classes – the Super Sporting Class for the veteran and professional drivers; the Sporting Class for amateur racers; the Promotional Class for the celebrities to race against each other; and the Rookie Class which, this year, has the second batch of graduates from GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program.
The program offers training to develop promising young Malaysians and they also get Vios racing cars to use. The talent that GAZOO Racing Malaysia looks out for are those keen to transition from karting and sim-racing to saloon car racing. The students are aged between 14 and 20, and they undergo intensive training both on and off the track under the close guidance of instructors at the GAZOO Racing School.
In today’s first race of Round 2, the 20-lap Super Sporting Class was dominated by Prima Pearl TD Racing Team’s Mitchell Cheah. He was in control from pole position to taking the chequered flag , just 2.1 seconds ahead of Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin. Freddie Ang from Telagamas Toyota followed in third position.
The first lap of the race unfolded in dramatic fashion when a racing incident quickly eliminated Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Lew and Prima Pearl TD Racing Team’s Tengku Djan Ley – both strong contenders for the top three positions. The incident behind gave Cheah and Darwin a clear path ahead, opening a gap of more than 10 seconds, while Ang had to fight his way pass Axle Motorsports’ Hayden Haikal from sixth position for a well-deserved third place.
“Conditions were extremely difficult today with the heat. I was just focused on the task in hand and to do my best to avoid making any mistakes. To be honest, that was quite difficult to do with Darwin putting me under tremendous pressure,” said Cheah, whose race win marks his second visit to the podium in 3 races so far this season.
In the Sporting Class, also 20 laps long in hot and sunny conditions, the race was red-flagged after the very first lap due to an incident involving 3 cars. The race was then suspended for 15 minutes before being restarted. But the outcome of the race remained unchanged for the top three, with Axle Motorsports’ Naquib Azlan claiming victory, 2.3 seconds ahead of S&D Tama Motorsports’ Tom Goh, while 23 Motor’s Abdul Miqail claimed a commendable third place after passing Crestmax Motorsport’s Bradley Benedict Anthony in the very last lap.
“First of all, I’m glad that all the drivers were safe and uninjured in the incident. For me, it was a case of being thankful at the restart as the race was cut shorter than expected and I didn’t have to defend as much,” said Naquib, a graduate of the Young Talent Development Program.
The battle of the young drivers in the Rookie Class saw Nabil Azlan (Naquib’s brother) charging to his second race win of the season. His closest rival was Muizz Musyaffa who stuck with him all the way to the finish line, taking second position, and Muhammad Hamdany rounding up the top three. It was also Muizz and Hamdany’s second and third visit to the podium, respectively.
“It wasn’t the easiest race for me with Muizz on my tail. It was very tough, and I just had to maintain a good pace. The heat was also very hard on the tyres this afternoon and that required me to constantly change my braking point into the corners,” said Nabil.
The Promotional Class for celebrities, always popular with spectators (many of whom are fans of the celebrities), saw actor Zizan Razak easily take the win after 18 laps. His steady pace kept him 12 seconds ahead of host and television presenter Nabil Ahmad, while host Ahirine Ahirudin finished third.
The race also began in dramatic fashion when pole position man and actor Shukri Yahaya jumped the start and was later disqualified. Unsure of what to do next, Shukri slowed down and allowed the rest of the grid to pass him before clawing his way back up to finish the race in second position.
“I felt a bit disoriented to be honest. After jumpstarting the race, I became unsure of what to do next and I began slowing down to let everyone else pass and restart my race from the back of the field. I felt that that was the most honourable thing to do, and I later began to chase the drivers in front of me one car at a time. I did not realize that I had already been disqualified. It was purely my mistake and I hope to make amends in Race 2,” admitted Shukri.
Stage performances by the celebrities are an added attraction.
He may be too young to drive but he’s certainly good on the skateboard!
Fans of celebrities always look forward to the ‘meet and greet’ sessions which are part of every TGR Racing Festival.
The second day of the TGR Racing Festival will see an All-Wheel Fest for non-motorized vehicles being held in the morning for bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, long boards, push bikes, and push scooters, to explore the Sepang International Circuit. There will also be a zumba session, a pump ramp and a skateboard competition as well as a skateboarding lesson for enthusiasts, and a concert by Indonesian singer Judika in the evening. So it’ll be worth an outing for all the family.
Car club owners had an opportunity to push their cars to the limits on the track during periods when there were no races running.
For those who can’t make it to the track, you can still catch Race 2 action and stage performances streamed live on the UMW Toyota Motor website at www.toyota.com.my and on the Face pages of Toyota Malaysia and Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia.
Now a firmly established event on the country’s motorsports calendar, the Vios Challenge, which originated as part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival), is the most lucrative motorsports event in the country. In total, more than a half a million ringgit in prize money is offered by organisers UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO Racing Malaysia.
After 5 seasons of the one-make series, there now exists a large base of Toyota Vios cars in Malaysia which have been specially prepared to meet the regulations of the series. These regulations strictly require all the cars to be identical in specifications with stock standard drivetrains as well as suspension and tyres. The aim is to equalise the performance aspect of the machine and make the races about driving skills and experience.
The large base of race-ready cars had encouraged UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO racing Malaysia to broaden the activities so that the owners have more races to participate in. One of the additional races on this year’s calendar is the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup in the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) this weekend (May 21/22) at the Sepang International Circuit.
A total of 38 drivers will start the first ever running of the GR Vios Sprint Cup, which will have two 1-hour races on Saturday and Sunday, with two-driver teams competing in 3 generations of Vios vying for total prize monies amounting to RM60,000.
The GR Vios Sprint Cup is run independently of the Vios Challenge, and there will be 2 rounds within the MCS, with each round offering two races. However, the regulations for the GR Vios Sprint Cup are similar to those of the Vios Challenge with regard to all the cars being identical in specification and preparation, with the only differences being the driver behind the wheel and the paint scheme on the bodywork.
All the cars are standard Vios models and prepared identically for racing so that they have similar performance levels. Winning a race is therefore dependent on driver experience and skills, rather than the power of the car.
Not surprisingly, the event has attracted many top local racers with varying levels of experience, virtually all of whom have taken part in the Vios Challenge. These include experienced contenders like Tengku Djan Ley, Mark Darwin, Mohd Fariqe Hairuman, Eddie Lew, Boy Wong and William Ho, as well as what can be regarded as the next generation of racers. These are drivers like Naquib Azlan, Hayden Haikal, Mika Hakimi, Nabil Azlan, Bradley Benedict Anthony, Timothy Yeo and Alister Yoong.
The GR Vios Sprint Cup will see drivers with varying experience – from veterans like Tengku Djan Ley (left) to rookies like Nabil Azlan (right).
To level the playing field further, the race prohibits 2 experienced drivers from racing together in the same car. Driving for Prima Pearl TD Racing, Tengku Djan will thus partner teenager Mika Hakimi this weekend, while Mark Darwin, another strong contender, will team up with another teenager, Bradley Benedict Anthony for Laser Motor Racing.
Axle Motorsports meanwhile, will field 2 all-teenage teams with the first pair of drivers consisting of Hayden Haikal and Naquib Azlan, and the second car driven by Alister Yoong and Muizz Musyaffa.
Race 1 of the GR Vios Sprint Cup on Saturday will see both drivers driving in two separate qualifying sessions, with the faster driver required to start the 1-hour race before making a mandatory pit-stop for a driver change. In Race 2 on Sunday, which will start as a reverse grid order based on the results of Race 1, the slower driver of the pair will start the 1-hour race and again required to make a mandatory pit stop. Both races will be a rolling-start format.
“Unlike the Vios Challenge which is usually confined to approximately 30 minutes of racing, the GR Vios Sprint Cup is designed to up the ante and to double the excitement on the track. In a full-blown endurance race, racers will pace themselves, but this is a 1-hour sprint to the finish which means the drivers will be going all out for 60 minutes from the very first corner in order to maintain an edge,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Ravindran K.
“Since UMW Toyota Motor began committing itself to motor racing in 2017, the objective has always been to see how we can contribute to not only the growth but to make Malaysian motorsports even more vibrant. The format of a one-make race has proven to be an incredibly successful formula, attracting not only professionals and experienced racers, but also newcomers and young talent. The GR Vios Sprint Cup continues this tradition but by changing the dynamics of the race, continues to generate enormous interest and participation which we hope will help to create more excitement in Malaysian motorsports,” he said, adding that there will also be the GR Vios Enduro Cup in conjunction with year end’s Sepang 1000Km Endurance Race.
Like the Vios Challenge which is the most lucrative motorsports event in Malaysia, the GR Vios Sprint Cup offers a large sum of prize money.
The overall champion in each of the 2 races at the GR Vios Sprint Cup stands to win RM10,000 cash, followed by RM8,000 for the first runner-up, RM6,000 to the third-place winner, and RM4,000 and RM2,000 for the fourth and fifth placed winners, respectively. In total, the Vios Sprint Cup offers prize monies amounting to RM60,000 per round.
UMW Toyota Motor is also putting up an additional RM30,000 in prize monies for its Toyota dealer teams making the GR Vios Sprint Cup the second most lucrative racing event in Malaysia next to the Vios Challenge.
With pandemic-related restrictions now eased, spectators are allowed to be at the racetrack to watch the races this weekend. Or you can also watch the live broadcasts UMW Toyota Motor’s Facebook page from the comfort of home. Click here for more information on GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s activities.
I would be lying if I said I was not excited about driving the GR Yaris.
“You go la bro, do a written and video review of the drive experience,” said Chips in our Piston/BikesRepublic/MotoMalaya Whatsapp group chat.
I saved the formalities, thanked Chips and dove right in. There was no, “are you sure, bro?”
I love my colleagues, but I love the cars more. There was no way was I going to say no to driving what is arguably the 10 most interesting drivers cars of the past decade. Or maybe 20.
The invite said to be there by 8, the sheer excitement woke me up by 530. I got there by 820. Traffic was bad.
After all the formalities, hellos and a quick breakfast, there it was, the car that had dominated the news for a while, and was deemed as the most exciting hot hatch in a while, and I was unimpressed. I found myself thinking, “damn, it is rather small and unassuming.”
It really is small. Tiny almost. Almost the size of a Mini Cooper 3-door. But wider. Which is not a bad thing. Some of the greatest cars are all short, wide and low. That’s the basics of a great hot hatch. Think Renault Clio V6.
But sit inside and it feels comfortable, with an almost family sort of friendliness to it; the type that feels like you could drive it all day and then some.
And despite all that, there was an aura in the air inside the GR Yaris that set the purpose straight. Telling whoever it is that sits in it that it was something special. This was not a regular Toyota and you could feel it.
Perhaps it was the data logger lookalike head unit that dominated the central dashboard. Or perhaps it was the very obvious focus of the 6-speed manual with an aluminium shifter. Or perhaps it was the plastic laminated sticker that read out the car’s purpose in life – ‘Developed For FIA World Rally Championship’. But the biggest giveaway to the purpose of this Yaris was in its name – Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris.
“I sat in one of those things,” says my cousin Miki the day after my drive at Sepang.
I drove the Yaris from London to Cardiff, and it was horrid,” he said.
“Yes, but I bet it wasn’t the GR Yaris,” was my answer.
“Of course not, I heard those things are quite special,” was his answer.
He could not be more right. The GR Yaris truly is special. It is also a Frankenstein of sorts as it is the combination of a Toyota Yaris front and a Toyota Corolla back. Hence why it looks so wide at the back, because it is all-wheel-drive, and the wider track helps it go rallying. A perfect canvas for Tommi Makinen’s Toyota GR Rally team to develop a world dominator.
But there is little point in going further here, even if I were to wax lyrical about how much fun the car is to drive, which it really is, on track at least because I haven’t driven it on road – the fact of the matter is that you cannot buy a Toyota GR Yaris anymore. Not a brand new unit in Malaysia at least.
UMW Toyota Malaysia offered only 125 units of the GR Yaris to the Malaysian public, and all of them have been spoken for.
I did question the need to write this article before starting, since you won’t be able to buy it brand new here anyway. But the car is undoubtedly amazing, and deserves an article of its own.
And I totally understand the demand for it, I want one too. I can’t remember the last time I drove something that made me want to do some very illegal things with it. Every couple of years, a manufacturer will release something truly special that will blow away even the most dedicated of passionists – the GR Yaris is one of them.
Visually though there is nothing special about the car – inside or outside.
The uninitiated could easily be fooled into thinking it were a custom Myvi with a wide body kit which had spent time at the chop shop to get rid of the two back doors.
It really isn’t visually impressive. It won’t make your children squeal in delight when they see one, it will make your wife question her marriage to you should you spend over a quarter of a million ringgit in a car the size of a Myvi. It won’t get you the girls.
It will however get you lots of questions from fanboys. Myvi’s will want to race you, the Type R boys will “cucuk” you every chance they get. And the AMG and Golf R boys will have a laugh smoking you.
But that’s okay though, because as soon as you hit the corners, you will have the last laugh, because in the corners is where this Yaris becomes at one with its element.
In fact I dare say that in tight corners and in the right hands, this Yaris will “re-smoke” the AMG and Golf R. Such is its talent and capabilities, but a short wheel-base all-wheel-drive car will always need some experienced, talented hands that know what to do in case things get hairy. And things will get hairy very quickly.
The all-wheel drive system is intelligent, in normal mode, it sends 60% of power to the front wheels, while in track mode it sends 50% of the power to the rear for perfect power distribution, and in sport mode it sends 70% of power to the back wheels, making it a tiny tail happy car.
We did get a chance to feel this layout for ourselves, the sport mode around the gymkhana track which was set up to initiate a slide – a 360 degree donut drift, a slalom course then into a high speed gets the tail out if you pull the handbrake hard enough. Onto another slalom then hard on the brakes.
It was in the track mode that really made me realise that there are certain limitations to the car. Brake hard into a slow corner like turns one, four, nine and 15 of the Sepang Circuit and the rear will threaten to break loose. In fast corners especially turns five and six you have to modulate the pedal and even then there is this niggling sensation that the back just wants to break free.
Power is from a three-cylinder, 1.6 turbocharged engine. It puts out 261PS and 360km/h. Get the shifts right and this Yaris will reach 100km/h in just 5.5 seconds. Top speed is rated at 230km/h.
But it is not how much power it puts out, it’s how it feels doing it.
Floor the pedal and there is no roar or scream that follows the acceleration. It is more of a “whoosh” of the turbocharger. Did you really expect a three-cylinder engine to scream?
I am not mocking the engine here. What Toyota has achieved with a three pot engine makes it the most power three-cylinder engine in the world. Ever! Read that sentence again, perhaps then we can truly appreciate the magnificence of this small car.
Then there is the fact this Yaris is in fact a homologation special – meaning that it was bred for racing. Rallying, to be more accurate.
Toyota built 25,000 units of the GR Yaris, because the rules of homologation says a manufacturer needs to build 25,000 units of a model, and it goes on to say that 2,500 of those can be high performance variants as well. Which suggests that rumours around Toyota building a more hardcore version of the GR Yaris may actually be true. Hello GRMN!
There is no doubt that the Toyota GR Yaris is a special car to drive, though it may not look like it to the untrained eye. This is a car that needs to be driven to be appreciated, and those that know, they know.
My biggest gripe with this car? That UMW Toyota Motor is not able to offer more units than the 125 already sold. That more people are not able to enjoy such a fantastic machine. This is a car that could potentially define a generation, a legend like the Golf GTI and the Renault Megane. And unfortunately enthusiasts will have to turn to the grey import market to buy it, robbing them of official Toyota after sales support.
There is also word from friends who have booked the GR Yaris that their bookings are a money making tool now. Some are getting random phone calls offering to buy their booking for double the booking fee paid. Demand is so hot that at the point of writing, the GR Yaris offers better return on investment than any form of investment type, be it properties, gold, petroleum or energy stock.
A great car it is, one of the modern legends, but it remains to be seen how that three-cylinder engine deals with all that abuse.
And if your wife threatens to leave you because you spent a quarter of a million ringgit on a car that looks like a Myvi, tell her that it is a better investment than the jewellery she forced you to buy her. For now at least.
The folks from Mutiara Motors aka Toyota Plentong will be launching the all-new Toyota GR Supra for the Southern region of Johor this Saturday (28 September 2019). To all Supra fans and enthusiasts currently residing in the state, you can catch it live from 10am to 4pm. Trust us, you will not want to miss it! (more…)
