SEPANG: The crowning of four new overall champions in Season 5 of the Vios Challenge race series could not have been a more regal affair when a record-high 3.1 million online viewers and race fans tuned in to watch an intensely-contested finale race weekend.
Fans were expecting a very close fight and nothing short of drama in the final showdown, and that was precisely what was served on the track.
In the end, the overall championship title in all four classes of racing would be decided in the very final 20-lap race at the Sepang International Circuit.
Season 5 crowned four new champions in four classes of racing: the Super Sporting Class for professionals; the Sporting Class for amateurs; the Rookie Class for young drivers; and the Promotional Class for celebrities.
UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the event had came a long way in five seasons of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and the Vios Challenge race series since it was started in 2017.
“At the time of inception we wanted to change the thinking that Toyota cars are meant for the matured crowd. We wanted to build an ever better car that also makes it attractive for the younger buyers and today there has been a total shift.
“Of course, we also wanted to make a significant contribution to Malaysian motorsports,” said Ravindran.
“The Vios Challenge provides us with a very strong platform to evaluate and develop our future cars. We also want our young engineers to be able to contribute to the research and development of future models.
“We want our customers to enjoy a very safe, fun and powerful car to drive, in this case the Vios. The Vios Challenge is the right platform for people to see this and for a lot of young engineers to join us to build better cars for the future,” he said.
In the Super Sporting Class, Prima Pearl TD Racing’s Mitchell Cheah kept his cool to finish 7.3 seconds ahead of Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang in what was a very intensely contested 20-lap race.
Finishing third in the all-night race was Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Lew.
The results however, made little difference as to who would be crowned the overall Super Sporting champion in Season 5 – Axle Sports’ Hayden Haikal.
“It feels just like 2020 when I won the Sporting Class. I couldn’t be happier. Going into Race 2, I felt that my car was slower than it was in Race 1 due to the weight penalty and I came under tremendous pressure from the field.
“The last two laps were the happiest of my life when two drivers had some problems with their cars and that allowed me to pass moving me up to fourth position with just enough points to stay ahead in the championship,” said the 18-year-old newly-crowned champion.
Victory in the Rookie Class meanwhile, went to Muizzuddin Musyafa, with Sharique Zulqarnain and Nabil Azlan rounding up the top three.
Third place however, was enough to crown Nabil with overall Rookie Class champion.
“First of all, here’s a massive shout out and thanks to Toyota and giving all of the rookies this opportunity to transition from simulator racing to saloon car racing.
“It wasn’t an easy task but thankfully, everything went well for me. I learnt from the mistakes I made and that led to three race victories and four podium finishes in six races. I hope to continue racing next year,” said Nabil.
In the Sporting Class, brother Naquib Azlan drove to a dominant Race 2 win – his second straight win over the weekend – to clinch the overall championship title with an unassailable lead in the point standings.
Finishing second in the heatedly contested race was Carroof Motorsport’s Mirza Syahmi Mahzan who crossed the finish line just 0.4 seconds adrift, followed by Tom Goh of S&D Tama Motorsports in third place.
“Coming into this race and starting from sixth position, it was never going to be straight forward. Also with the overall championship in mind I really had to manage the risks that I took. I did not want to get into any incidents that could cost us the championship title,” said Naquib who drives for Axle Sports.
“With 60kg of ballast, it was difficult to keep up with the faster cars and I had to be more imaginative to make the overtaking maneuvers stick. At towards the final laps of the race, I saw an opening and I just went for it,” he said.
Winning the overall Rookie Class in Season 4 and clinching this season’s Sporting Class championship, Naquib is now looking forward to return to the Vios Challenge in Season 6 with the hope of fighting for the championship in the Super Sporting Class for professionals.
“I’ll try to find a way to make that happen. I want to win that as well. I never expected my transition to the Sporting Class to be so successful especially with more experienced drivers.
“To be honest I was never certain I could win a race what more the overall championship,” he said.
The Promotional Class saw singer Khai Bahar racing to his first race win of the season, just ahead of actress Ahirine Ahirudin with presenter Nabil Ahmad in third position.
That third position however, was enough to earn Nabil the overall Promotional Class title with a six-point advantage over actor Zizan Razak who again finished runner-up in his second successive season.
“It’s an amazing feeling to win the last race of the season and I hope that I will be back in Season 6. I would like to thank Toyota for giving all of us this fantastic opportunity,” said race winner Khai.
Season 5’s finale was held as a special and exclusive event opened to only 2,000 race fans and celebrity superfans over the race weekend.
The entire rooftop length of the Sepang International Circuit’s main paddock building was transformed into a festival ground, with a myriad of activities from the chance to mingle with their favourite celebrities during a walkabout; and a meet & greet and autograph session; the display and sale of Gazoo Racing and Toyota merchandises; family activities; a lucky draw with attractive prizes; and two very special concerts.
The festival weekend was also celebrated with back-to-back concerts with Saturday’s stage
performances led by TGR racing celebrities Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali, and with a special 40-minute Rappers & Racers concert anchored by K-Clique.
Sunday’s performance was by singer and fellow TGR racing celebrity Khai Bahar who performed ahead of a Rockers & Racers concert featuring Malaysian rock queen Ella and girl group Dolla.
For details, log on to
www.toyota.com.my
.
RESULTS: ROUND 3, RACE 2
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
1. Mitchell Cheah – Prima Pearl TD Racing
2. Freddie Ang – Telagamas Toyota
3. Eddie Lew – Laser Motor Racing
SPORTING CLASS
1. Naquib Azlan – Axle Sports
2. Mirza Syahmi Mahzan – Carroof Motorsport
3. Tom Goh – S&D Tama Motorsports
ROOKIE CLASS
1. Muizzuddin Musyaffa
2. Sharique Zulqarnain
3. Nabil Azlan
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
1. Khai Bahar
2. Ahirine Ahirudin
3. Nabil Ahmad
SEASON 5 (2022) OVERALL CHAMPIONS
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
Hayden Haikal – Axle Sports
SPORTING CLASS
Naquib Azlan – Axle Sports
ROOKIE CLASS
Nabil Azlan
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
Nabil Ahmad
Keyword: Vios Challenge Seson 5 ends with four new champions