In the opening round of Season 5 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Vios Challenge, which befell yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit, younger drivers in the one-make series fired an early warning salvo to the relaxation of the subject by dominating the prime two lessons of racing for elite and novice racers.
In the Super Sporting Class for elite {and professional} drivers, 17-yr-outdated Hayden Haikal catapulted himself from being quickest in qualifying to profitable the race. In a tightly-contested race, he completed simply half a second forward of Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang, with Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Liew coming in third.
Meanwhile, in the Sporting Class for amateurs, 22-yr-outdated Naquib Azlan emerged victorious in solely his second yr of aggressive racing after making a transition from simulator racing. Naquib gained his class with a cushty 15-second margin over S&D Tama Motorsports’ Tom Goh. Finishing third was one other teen, 19–yr-outdated Bradley Benedict Anthony of Crestmax Motorsport.
Moving as much as the Sporting Class after profitable final yr’s Rookie Class, Naquib had clocked the quickest time in qualifying, however each he and Bradley have been penalised for a technical infringement, which dropped the two drivers to fifth and sixth on the beginning grid. That, nevertheless, didn’t show to be a setback, as the remaining outcome confirmed.
Naquib’s brother, Nabil, made it a double celebration by securing victory in the Rookie Class. The 20-yr-outdated debutant, competing in a saloon automobile race for the very first time, additionally gained his class for brand spanking new drivers beneath Gazoo Racing’s Young Driver Development Programme. The race winner stated that he was shocked how rather a lot of the issues in simulator racing may very well be utilized to actual world racing.
Finishing second and third in the Rookie Class have been karters Sharique Zulqarinain and Muhammad Hamdany Abdul Hamid respectively, whereas fourth place went to Adele Liew. In fifth was one other karter, Muizz Musyaffa.
In the Promotional Class for celebrities, actor Zizan Razak didn’t go away something to probability this season as he took off with the race from pole place to complete greater than 15 seconds clear of defending Promotional Class champion and fellow actor Shukri Yahaya. In third place was presenter Ahirine Ahirudin.
Singer Nabila Razali had been in rivalry for fourth place, till a mistake despatched her into the gravel
at the final lap. That promoted presenter/comic Nabil Ahmad into fourth, with singer Wany
Hasrita, actress Janna Nick, presenter Ain Edruce finishing the race in fifth, sixth and seventh positions respectively. Round 1’s motion continues with Race 2 immediately.
