‘People’s race’ kicks off this weekend

MOTORSPORTS fans are in for a treat as the opening round of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Vios Challenge series kicks off this weekend.

Since the festival and race series was first introduced in 2017, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd has taken an aggressive and unorthodox approach to promoting motorsports in Malaysia.

While races in Malaysia were traditionally confined to permanent circuits, the festival introduced the concept of street racing throughout the country where purpose-built temporary circuits were set up in Penang, Terengganu, Johor and the Klang Valley.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival brings racing to the masses and aims to cultivate a greater appreciation for motorsports.

The objective was not only to provide racers with a new experience and enhance their skills, but more importantly, to bring racing to the masses and to cultivate a greater appreciation for motorsports.

Toyota and Gazoo Racing have also taken racing online to establish the Gazoo Racing Velocity E-Sports Championship deemed to be the most lucrative online racing event in Malaysia.

The Vios Challenge has the distinction of being the only series of its kind in Malaysia to bring together not only amateur and professional racers, but also local celebrities who have since grown to become competitive racers.

In 2020, history was made when a 16-year-old was crowned the overall champion of the Vios Challenge Sporting Class for amateur and gentlemen racers.

Last year, Toyota also introduced the Gazoo Racing Young Talent Development Programme and the very first Rookie Class for drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 who were transitioning from simulator racing and karting to saloon car racing – a programme that is being continued this season.

Season Five will see at least 10 young drivers on the track competing in three classes with more than half-a-million ringgit in prizes at stake, including RM70,000 and RM50,000 for the overall champion of the Super Sporting and Sporting Class, making the Vios Challenge the most lucrative motorsports event in the country.

Toyota is inviting race fans and enthusiasts to participate in the Gazoo Racing Dream Team TGR Fantasy, an online racing game platform where players compete against each other by creating their dream team.

“The Festival and the Vios Challenge continues to grow in line with our aspirations to make an impactful contribution to Malaysian motorsports,” said UMW Toyota Motor president K. Ravindran.

“From a series that attracts professionals, gentlemen drivers and local celebrities, it has today grown into one of the most ideal, accessible and affordable platforms to hone the skills and experience of young drivers coming up the ranks in motorsports.”

He added, “This year, we want enthusiasts and fans to become even more invested in the series by introducing a fantasy game that will enable them to better relate to their favourite drivers on the track.

“The Vios Challenge is evolving to become ‘the people’s race’. It is an event that we hope will continue to attract amateur, professional and young drivers by way of making it accessible, affordable, better structured and rewarding.”

This weekend’s opening round at Sepang International Circuit will see a star-studded line-up of international drivers and former champions, and what will probably be the very first documented race between a father and daughter.

The Vios Challenge one-make series will be divided into four classes — Promotional Class for local celebrities; Super Sporting Class for elite and professional drivers; Sporting Class for amateur and gentlemen drivers; and the Rookie Class for young drivers.

Nine celebrities will be competing in the Promotional Class. Returning to defend his title is Season Four champion, actor Shukri Yahaya, last year’s runner-up and actor Zizan Razak; TV host Nabil Ahmad; actress Janna Nick; singers Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar; TV personality Ahirine Ahiruddin; and actress and presenter Ain Edruce who is making her return to the Vios Challenge.

The festival remains closed to the public as a safeguard against the Covid-19 pandemic, but racing fans can catch the action and performances that will be streamed live via www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Malaysia and Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.