since 1976
since 1976
Round 2 of the GR Vios Challenge at the Sepang International Circuit opened with a very cautious Race 1 as drivers in all classes of racing appeared to rely on a strategy game to accumulate as many points as they could to remain in contention or to consolidate their position for the overall championship title.
A total of 1.5 million online viewers tuned in to watch an exciting battle of generations brewing between young and experienced racers.
While the race was no less exciting with close battles - some right to the finish – patience appeared to have had the upper hand compared to the normal risk taking fans have grown accustomed to watching in the one-make race.
In the Super Sporting for elite drivers, veteran driver Eddie Lew shot into the lead from the front row of the grid to lead the 20-lap race ahead of pole position man and Laser Motor Racing team mate Putera Adam.
Lew held on to the lead for three laps before being overtaken for the lead by a charging Mitchell Cheah who stormed to the head of the pack from fifth on the grid. The top 5 rivers by the halfway mark of the race was dominated by Cheah, Lew, Putera Adam and Axle Sports’ Hayden Haikal and team mate Naquib Azlan.
With 2 laps remaining, the gap between Mitchell and the pair of Lew and Putera Adam was a mere 0.4 seconds and that would be how they finished, with Hayden in fourth and Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang claiming fifth place ahead of Naquib.
The battle of the young drivers in the Rookie Class meanwhile, saw Nazmir Azlan claiming victory ahead of Yazid Razak in second, and Azriel Azhar in third position. Nazmir had led the race from start to finish despite starting from fourth position on the grid. Ironically, all three drivers had started from the very back of the grid but ended up finishing in the top three positions.
Pole position man Elson Lew also failed to take full advantage of a front row start and finished the race fifth.
In the Sporting Class, Nabil Azlan made the most of his pole position to shoot into the lead of the 20-lap race followed by Aaron Haikal of Distinctive Model and 23 Motors’ Abdul Miqail. Aaron and Miqail became embroiled in their own battle for second place which allowed Nabil to extend his lead from 1.5 seconds to more than 3.4 seconds ahead after 6 laps. That lead progressively increased to 6.5 seconds before Nabil eventually crossed the finish line with a healthy 11-second win.
In the Promotional Class for celebrities, pole sitter and actor Shukri Yahaya drove a flawless 18-lap race to win ahead of actor and host Ezzrin Loy in second position and actress Ahirine Ahirudin rounding up the top three positions.
Round 2 of the GR Vios Challenge at the Sepang International Circuit is live streamed on www.toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia and across all of Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia’s social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube pages.
The race involves total of 45 drivers competing in the Super Sporting Class for elite and professional drivers; Sporting Class for amateurs; Rookie Class for young drivers; and the Promotional Class for celebrities.
The live stream for Race 2 tomorrow (Sunday, 4 June), starts at 6.30pm with the Sporting Class, followed by the Super Sporting and Rookie Classes at 8.00pm, and the Promotional Class at 9.00pm. Viewers will also be treated to a special performance by local singer and celebrity racer Khai Bahar at 9.40pm.
For more information, log on to UMW Toyota Motor (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd website at www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia social media pages.
