Season 7 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia (TGR Malaysia) concluded with a slew thrilling finale races from the Vios Challenge one-make series last weekend at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
A combined RM630,000 in prize money pool was offered this season, this elevating the Malaysia-rooted series’ profile further, even drawing more entries from international competitors too. Of course, the highlight of last weekend were the crowning of champions across all three categories.
Starting with the hotly contested Super Sporting Class for pro drivers, the weekend belonged to Axle Sports alumni Naquib Azlan. He clinched the class’ title by dethroning defending champion Mitchell Cheah from Prima Pearl TD Racing.
Cheah settled for second overall, whilst Telagamas Toyota driver Freddie Ang secured third. All three drivers also took home sizeable prize monies, but it was Naquib to earned the lion share of RM80,000. Runner-ups Cheah and Ang were awarded RM60,000 and RM40,000 each instead.
The effort also sees Naquib amass his third Vios Challenge title – he had won both the Rookie and Sporting Class titles prior. Also, the title win comes despite Naquib having retired from Sunday’s Race 2 following a dramatic collision with Cheah who was eventually penalised by the stewards.
Moving to the intermediate and semi-pros in the Sporting Class, it was series regular Kenneth Koh form the PCM Group Racing Team who reigned supreme all weekend with back-to-back victories. Additionally, the effort also sees Koh earn a promotion into the Super Sporting Class for Season 8.
Koh’s dominance aside, the Sporting Class standings saw Race Rally KL driver Shafiq Samsudin place second, followed by Elson Lew of BAE Racing ranking third. Of course, Koh took the lion share in prize money totalling RM60,000, whilst Shafiq and Lew each earned RM40,00 and RM20,000 respectively.
“This has been my seventh season, and to win the championship after so much hard work feels incredible. Moving to the Super Sporting Class will be a new challenge, but I’m ready to compete at a higher level,” said Koh after receiving his trophies and prizes on Sunday at Petronas SIC.
Last but certainly not the least, the Rookie Class saw rising star Adam Mikail claim the title here as champion, outracing rivals Brandon Ho in second and third place Raja Amirul Syauqat. For Adam, the victory marked a major milestone for the 18-year-old kart racer.
The title win sees Adam earn a promotion to the Sporting Class for Season 8. Noteworthy too is rival Raja Amirul’s efforts to rank third overall. This is the youngster’s first time competing in real world racing having been discovered and transitioned from the Toyota GR GT Cup sim-racing series.
You can relive all the thrills and spills of the door-to-door racing action from last weekend online via the official TGR Malaysia Youtube page.
