since 1976
since 1976
With the exception of two veteran drivers in the top three positions of the GR Vios Challenge Super Sporting and Sporting Classes, the podium was essentially dominated by young drivers as Round 1 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival got off to a thrilling start at the Sepang International Circuit.
The format of a one-make race and everyone being equal on performance has certainly brought out the best in a new, younger and bold generation of drivers. To do this however, they must first find a chink in the armor of the more experienced drivers.
The 20-lap Super Sporting Class race for professional drivers and the Rookie Class for young drivers, provided the opening action for Race 1 which saw Axle Sports’ Naquib Azlan taking victory ahead of the Laser Motor Racing pair of 49-year-old Eddie Lew and 17-year-old Putera Adam in second and third respectively.
The opening race of the year was as expected, intense action from start to the finish with no less than six drivers battling for the top 3 positions right to the final corner of the last lap.
In the Rookie Class, simulator racers following in the footsteps of Naquib, again proved to be at the top of their game with Iman Danish, Elson Lew and Nazmir Azlan taking the top three places.
For 19-year-old Elson Lew, a nervous first race start in his career also did not prevent him from charging to the front of the pack and spending most of the 20-lap race defending his second spot. Sharing the same sentiment and thrilled with his third place result was 15-year-old Nazmir who is also the youngest driver this season.
The Sporting Class saw his brother Nabil Azlan, who was also Season 5’s Rookie Class champion, cruise to a comfortable 8-second lead ahead of 23 Motors’ Abdul Miqail and Zaquin Boulevard Motorsports’ and 39-year-old Tarmimi Tahang in what was the only full wet race of the day.
Despite putting in a highly committed drive in the closing stages of the race to get into podium contention, Abdul Miqail was however, handed a 30-second penalty which dropped him to 9th position. This promoted Tarmimi to second and Crestmax Motorsport’s Bradley Benedict Anthony into third position.
For 17-year-old Abdul Miqail, all was not lost and his promising start of the season is a good indication of what is in store for the rest of the year.
In the Promotional Class, actors Zizan Razak and Shukri Yahaya again exhibited the close rivalry they had demonstrated the previous two seasons but in the end it was eventually Zizan who took the chequered flag by a mere 0.27 seconds ahead. In third position was fellow actor and GR Vios Challenge newcomer Ezzrin Loy who was a distant 25 seconds behind.
For Ezzrin Loy, the invitation to join the GR Vios Challenge in Season 6 was truly exciting given his background as a passionate motorsports enthusiast.
Returning to the grid are also actress and television personality Ahirine Ahirudin; and television personality Ain Edruce, while joining Ezzrin are another four new celebrities: professional ten pin bowler and Ratu Ten Pin drama actress Syaidatul Afifah; actor, television host and Hot FM radio presenter Imran Aqil; radio presenter Hefny Sahad; and actress and model Reen Rahim.
Catch all the action and stage performances by local celebrities on ground or streamed live on the UMW Toyota Motor (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd website at www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Malaysia and Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Facebook pages. For more information, kindly log on to www.toyota.com.my.
SEASON 6, ROUND 1, RACE 1 RESULTS
SUPER SPORTING
Naquib Azlan Axle Sports
Eddie Lew Laser Motor Racing
Putera Adam Laser Motor Racing
SPORTING
Nabil Azlan Axle Sports
Tarmimi Tahang Zaquin Boulevard Motorsports
Bradley Benedict Anthony Crestmax Motorsport
ROOKIE
Iman Danish
Elson Lew
Nazmir Azlan
PROMOTIONAL
Zizan Razak
Shukri Yahaya
Ezzrin Loy
