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HAYDEN HAIKAL, THE MAN TO BEAT IN THE THAILAND IDEMITSU SUPER TURBO CHAMPIONSHIP
Armed with two race wins in Round 1, Malaysian teenager Hayden Haikal will be the man to beat when Round 2 of the Idemitsu Super Turbo Championship gets underway this weekend (19-21 May) at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram.
The 18-year-old currently leads the overall point standings in the Junior Category in class D4 for normally-aspirated engines up to 1550cc, piloting a super touring version of the Toyota Vios for Malaysian team Wing Hin Motorsports.
“After two race wins I definitely expect the competition to be tougher this weekend but that only makes it more challenging,” said Hayden. “I am hoping to repeat Round 1’s results but we’ll see how it goes.
“In Round 1, we struggled to find the right set-up for the car in the absence of any previous racing data. This time, we have some valuable data and we hope we can make even greater progress moving forward. Running against top drivers in turbocharged cars that are way faster to our normally-aspirated car places us at some disadvantage but we have proven that that may not necessarily be the case in the race.”
It is Hayden and the team’s maiden appearance in the Idemitsu Super Turbo Championship in Thailand. For Hayden however, it is his second year competing in Thailand, after finishing the overall runner-up in another Thai championship, the Thailand Super Eco Saloon Car Series, last year.
The Idemitsu Super Turbo Championship will comprise of 3 rounds with Round 2 this weekend {19-21 May} and the final two rounds scheduled for 16-18 June 2023, with all races taking places at the 4.554km Chang International Circuit.
Catch the racing action live streamed at https://www.superturbothailand.com/2018/superturbo/ or on
the Super Turbo SEA Zone Challenge page on Facebook.
GRASS ROOTS RACE SEASON 3 WILL START ON MAY 20, 2023
The grass roots race, FIM MiniGP Malaysia Series and SIC Ohvale Junior Championship season 3 is scheduled to take place with 5 Rounds this year.
The first round will be held at UniMAP Circuit, Perlis this weekend, 20 – 21 May 2023, while the second round at Morac Adventure Park Langkawi Circuit, Kedah on 17 – 18 June 2023. Tangkak Racing Circuit, Johor is the location for the third scheduled round on 5 – 6 August 2023, while the fourth and final round will be held at the Sepang Kart International Circuit (SIKC) on 2 – 3 September 2023 and 14 – 15 October 2023.
The FIM MiniGP Malaysia Series will featuring 18 riders aged 12 to 14 including 4 riders from Singapore, Vietnam and China who will ride Ohvale 160cc racing machines. Meanwhile, 15 riders including 5 riders from Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam and China aged 8 to 12 will ride Ohvale 110cc racing machines in the SIC Ohvale Junior Championship.
FIM MiniGP Malaysia will also going on together with the Malaysian Supermoto Championship this year. This championship can also be watched live via Facebook FIM MiniGP Malaysia and SIC Ohvale Junior Championship.
WHO HOLDS THE TRUMP CARD?
The battle between Malaysia’s Super KIP and Thailand’s Chip Nakarin was evident in Round 1 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Taking their turns to flex their muscles and dominate the circuit with their well-rounded expertise, the season foresees exciting scenes as they go on full-throttle to conquer.
Circumstances may not have been favourable to KIP in last season but this year is all about making up for the loss, and he flew to a great start. His flawless lap time consequently his win in Race 1, may not have come as a surprise but for Chip, it was about learning his contender’s moves and using his home-ground circuit to his advantage to strike back in Race 2. With HONDA RACING THAILAND and BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM gloating upon equal points, the next challenge would be the drive to dominate the chart.
Commenting on the Round 1, Chip said, “There are differences in our riding styles and tactics. Riding alongside my rivals help me understand that better and be more aware. That is important as it helps me adapt to the situation throughout the race. Round 1 was an incredible race. Of course, apart from the rivalry, it was also the heat however that’s the challenge we have to overcome.”
As for KIP, he said, “Last year was a struggle for me as I was out of the racing scene for about a year prior to that. So, while I took time to gain back the confidence and pick up on my riding abilities, it helped me project the possibilities clearer. Race 1 was an ultimate boost to get back into the momentum. Now, it is all about being ahead and fighting from here on.”
Sepang circuit will definitely be an added advantage for Khairul however Nakarin seemed to have upped his game this season and is in to take up the forthcoming hurdles ahead. The Honda riders may have the machines for speed but what fuels excitement into the game is the amalgamation of engine capacities with manoeuvring techniques.
Khairul said, “I love Sepang circuit. It is my home-ground and I have celebrated many success stories there. Nevertheless, key to the success is also the condition of the machine. As such, team work is crucial as they are the backbone to the development of a machine that is near perfect for the race.”
As for Nakarin, he said, “The motivation in Sepang would be to have Thailand flag on the podium, preferably on the top spot which is not going to be easy. Riding there would require the skill in braking at the corners and a proper riding plan. I lack skills when cornering hence need more work on that. Furthermore, with Malaysian riders on the circuit ground, it is bound to get fiery!”
RIGHT RHYTHM AND CONSISTENCY, KEY IN UB150
The Underbone 150cc race category of FIM Asia Road Racing Championship has always been an intriguing ride especially with highly driven Asian riders in long lines, fighting to catch up in a bid to bag the limelight. Wawan Wello of PitsBike JRT Tech 2 OneWay Racing Team has showcased excellent showmanship in Round 1 and will return for greater challenges in Round 2 at Sepang International Circuit.
The 25-year-old Indonesian rider is not a stranger in his homeland and has a huge database of fans and followers. That is undeniably an attribution to his successes in the motorcycle racing scene. Wawan made his debut in ARRC in year 2018 in the last two rounds before coming back for more in
year 2019 where he made it second on the podium three times. It was not an easy year for him especially with technical issues surrounding his machine nevertheless, he put on quite a show and landed himself 7 th overall. Coming back this season after a long-hiatus on his end is a big move and despite that, Wawan has already made waves on the circuit.
“I am quite happy and satisfied with my achievements and the team work in Round 1, more so since I have not raced in the Asian racing scene for over 2 years. My experiences in the years before have definitely been a huge guide in helping me with my riding abilities. The machines in the UB150 race category are almost similar in power and capacities hence practicing on my skills are important to make the cut.”
Wawan was fiery in Round 1 where he took lead in most laps. His ability to withstand the pressure trailing him kept him grounded with a steady pace. Commenting on the ride, Wawan said, “This category paves a winning pathway for all riders. Key to this category would be finding the right
rhythm that would provide consistency throughout the ride. Consistency can only be achieved if mistakes are minimised.”
“The machines in the category are fine-tuned to achieve its maximum capacity. The mechanics are excellent in providing a setup that would work for the circuit. As a rider, my job is to up my performances, aligned with the performances of the machine. For the race at Sepang, I would have to get adapted to the setup of the machine as quick as possible so that I can make my way to the podium.”
AN IMPORTANT PSYCHOLOGICAL VICTORY FOR VIPER NIZA RACING AT SEPANG 12 HOURS
Victory in the form of a podium finish may have eluded the Viper Niza Racing Team at the Motul Sepang 12 Hours endurance race last weekend but it was manifested as a valiant charge to successfully complete its first long distance race on the back of a challenging weekend.
With less than a day to rebuild its extensively damaged Aston Martin Vantage GT3, sorting out electrical gremlins and the limited practice time required to set-up the car, the trio of Douglas Khoo, Dominic Ang and Jazeman Jaafar overcame a host of challenges and setbacks to bring the car across the finish line with a total of 207 laps completed in 10th overall and 7th in the GT3 Class.
Team Principal and Driver, Douglas Khoo.
“It was a tough weekend. We received the parts to rebuild the car on Thursday, had less than a day to put it together while ironing out electrical gremlins and so little practice yet thanks to the team, drivers,
sponsors and our supporters, we successfully got the car across the finish competitively. To be honest, we weren’t sure if the car would even fire up on Thursday.”
The team’s Vantage GT3 had required the car to be rebuilt following an incident last month at the Asian Le Mans Series in Dubai where it was hit from behind by another driver on a straight had causing extensive chassis damage. The brand new chassis arrived in time but some other critical parts did not, yet the team pushed ahead to put the car back together as best it could.
Qualifying 8th, Viper Niza Racing endured a very trying start from the very opening stages of the race at its home event at the Sepang International Circuit. A spin and a drive through penalty within the first hour cost it valuable time, and then an unexpected mechanical stoppage due to fuelling issues approaching the 2-hour mark forced the Vantage GT3 to slow cruise back into pit lane. That dropped the team to as far back as 11th place before fighting its way back up.
“The race was super competitive and the conditions were very difficult, made even worse by the fact that the air-conditioning in the car was not working and it was baking hot. It wasn’t quite the result we were hoping for but it was nevertheless an important milestone for both the team and car having completed its first long distance test. We successfully finished and this is an important step towards unlocking the true potential of the car moving forward.”
The focus will now be on completing repairs to the car in time for the team’s next race at the Thailand
Super Series in April.
Kasma Star at Jempol
Round 2 of PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship saw the highlight of today’s race at Dataran Seri Jempol. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin presented a victorious moment to PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor with his win in the CP150 race category.
Earlier this morning, fans of Cub Prix were treated to the Super Pole session who witnessed the spectacular speed drawn by Kasma marking his fastest at 43’948s. Azroy Hakeem Anuar of Honda Yuzy Estremo Team came in second at 44’135s while Md Haziq Md Fairues of PETRONAS Sprinta
Yamaha Maju Motor made his fastest at 44’177s.
Luck was not on their side when Afif and Nazirul took a fall, seconds into the race. This provided the opportunity for Akid to race ahead of the troop and into P1. Akid went on, in control of the circuit for a few laps before Kasma initiated his move to strike. By the sixth lap, Kasma succeeded and
overtook Akid. Throughout the race, Kasma grounded himself firmly at P1.
At P2, Akid was threatened by Azroy. Nevertheless, Akid went on at P2 before finally succumbing to Azroy in the 16th lap. During that time, Kasma was boldly striding ahead with a consistent pace at P1. He gradually increased his speed and left a reasonably good lap to avoid pressure from the rider at P2. At the end of the 18th lap, Azroy, unable to maintain his momentum, was struck by Akid.
At the last lap, the gap between Kasma and Akid became wider and Akid lost his chances to move forward. Kasma celebrated his first victory for Season 2023 when he clocked in at 14’53:692s.
Commenting on the race, Kasma said, “During the race earlier, I was a little late and was left out. Adding on to the strain was the heat and I felt like the power being drained off. During that time, I tried to overtake while also retaining my racing line. Akid had the upperhand in terms of top speed therefore, I tried my best to maintain my momentum, focusing on cornering-to-cornering.”
“The weather was extremely hot and the tires of the other riders too were affected. We only tried to do our best, played safe to avoid any fall. I am truly grateful for the win.”
The second spot on the podium went to Md Akid Aziz of PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ Racing at 14’54:099s.
Azroy Hakeem Anuar of Honda Yuzy Estremo Team took third place at 14’54:892s.
In the CP125 category, Md Khairi Ashraf Mahmood of Jetron Yamaha YYPang Racing Team took control of Dataran Seri Jempol with a win to his name.
In the Shoot Out Session earlier this morning, Md Aiman Tahiruddin of PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ Racing team marked the fastest lap time at 46’430s followed by Md Khairi Ashraf Mahmood of Jetron Yamaha YYPang Racing Team at 46’435s and Md Irfan Haykal Amidi of Bad Lab Honda KC Racing at 46’539s.
As soon as the race flagged off, Aiman took speed ahead of the troop, preventing other riders from making a slide ahead of him at the first turn. Nevertheless, the heated battle between the riders of CP125 picked up into the first few laps and saw the exchange of position between them with the
more apparent exchange between Aiman and Firdaus. During that time, Irfan Haykal was finding the right moment to strike at P3.
With two more laps to go, a casualty occurred and the three leading riders took a fall. That gave Khairi Ashraf who was in P4 the opportunity to strike. Adie Putra who was at P5 immediately switched to P2. At the last lap, Khairi fled ahead to the finish line clocking in at 11’51:548s. Adie however who was at P2 was superseded by Shafiq Ezzariq who ended the race at P2.
Commenting on the race, Khairi said, “I am thankful to my team for the right setup of the machine. In the beginning, it was quite a tough fight especially with riders of such great calibre. Nevertheless, the opportunity opened up for me when the three riders ahead of me had a fall. I immediately raced ahead and completed the race at P1.”
The second spot on the podium went to his teammate, Md Syafiq Ezzariq Saiful Nizam who logged in his best at 11’53:687s.
Md Adie Putra Sukarno of PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor took the third place, clocking in at 11’54:139s.
Meanwhile, in the Wira KBS category, Emil Idzhar Ezuan cheered his team Yamaha Estremo 27 Racing further with a win.
Emil began the race at the pole position. However, at the end of the first lap, Emil was overtaken by Adib Arsyad who was then superseded by Adib Hareez at the end of lap 2. Meanwhile, Amirun Haziq who was at P5 in the beginning of the race gave his best shot and moved up to P2 at the end of lap 6.
Mid race, Amirun put pressure upon Adib Hareez who was ahead of him and took over P1. Nevertheless, Amirun could not retain his position when Emil snatched P1 who then went on to continue the race. Towards the last few laps, Emil guarded his position well and although he was relentlessly pursued by Adib Hareez, Emil concluded the race first at 9’42:132s.
Commenting on the race, Emil said, “I am thankful to my parents and team for the hard work this weekend. In the beginning, I felt a little left out and could not find my pace. However, towards the end of the race, I managed to catch up with my speed and better momentum.”
The second spot on the podium went to Adib Hareez Hazwat of Bad Lab Honda KC Racing, logging in at 9’42:488s.
Ahmad Iqram Danish Ahmad Ghazali of Yamaha Estremo 27 Racing took the third spot, clocking in at 9’43:912s.
YOUNG MALAYSIAN RACER HAYDEN SETS SIGHTS ON CLINCHING HIS FIRST INTERNATIONAL TITLE
Young Malaysian racer Hayden Haikal will be digging deep this weekend when he competes for the prospect of being crowned the overall champion in the Thailand Super Eco saloon car series at the Buriram Chang International Circuit.
With three 2nd places and two race wins in 6 rounds of racing so far, the 18-year-old is currently 2nd in championship just 20 points behind Na Dol Vatanatham who has 105 points to his tally. Both drivers have proven to be dominant in the series and their races results almost identical, but Vatanatham has the advantage of one extra race win as a result of Hayden’s misfortune in scoring any points in Round 2 due to a technical issue with his Honda Brio.
“Mathematically, I have a good shot at winning the overall title in the Thailand Super Eco Series but it’s going to be a very tall order, especially with the dominance championship leader Vatanatham has demonstrated over the last six rounds. Anything is possible is the last two races of the season. I just have to remain focused, drive my own race and let the math sort itself out,”
Said Hayden who admitted that while he would be gunning to end the season on a high, the prospect of coming in second in only his first full season competing in Thailand would be equally an achievement he can be proud of.
The final two rounds of the Thailand Super Eco series will consist of two 12-lap races on Saturday and Sunday (10 and 11 December). A total of 23 drivers will be taking to the grid with Hayden being the only foreign driver. For a first timer competing in Thailand, Hayden has quickly established himself as one of the series’ favourites with his matured driving and consistent results.
The Thailand Super Eco Series is run on both street and permanent circuits. Hayden’s Thailand Super Eco Series campaign had kicked off in June with the first two rounds held at the Bangsaen street circuit before rounds 4-6 moved to the Buriram Chang International Circuit. With five years of experience competing on street and permanent circuits in the Malaysian Vios Challenge racing series however, making his debut at the Bangsaen Grand Prix proved anything but intimidating for Hayden who confidently raced to a second place finish in his debut.
“Overall, it has been a fantastic year of racing for me, having won the Super Sporting Class for professional drivers in the Vios Challenge and recently being placed second overall in the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race. And now, being in contention for the championship in Thailand in only my first year racing abroad is just phenomenal.
Hayden Haikal, Malaysian racer.
Rotax Simracing Challenge Asia
This year, in conjunction with the Rotax Max Challenge Asia Festival (RMCAF), we are proud to be hosting the Rotax Simracing Challenge Asia (RSCA) championship! Come and join us for your chance to race in Malaysia’s first online-to-offline karting championship, and see if you have what it takes to be a professional karter! With an all-expense paid trip to the finals in Langkawi up for grabs, this is an opportunity that you cannot miss. Could this be your chance to shine?
See full Regulations and Event info here:
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Rotax Max Challenge Asia Festival Official Website:
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Main Sponsor:
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Co-Sponsor:
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Media Partners: Galeri Kereta
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SIC REVS UP TO WELCOME FANS BACK TO PETRONAS GRAND PRIX OF MALAYSIA
Tuesday, 16 August 2022 – The 23rd edition of the longest-running international motorsports event, PETRONAS GRAND PRIX OF MALAYSIA 2022 happening on the 21 – 23 October was officially launched at the Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS by the Minister of Youth and Sports (KBS), Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Ahmad Faizal bin Dato’ Azumu today.
The 23rd edition of the Malaysian Grand Prix marks PETRONAS’ debut as title sponsor having reached an agreement with MotoGP™ rights holder, Dorna Sports earlier this year. The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) also announced Malaysian rider, Syarifuddin Azman (Damok), has been granted a wildcard entry in the Moto3™ World Championship. The 21-year-old is currently ranked second in the FIM JuniorGP™ championship standings.
This year marks the first year of PETRONAS as the Title Sponsor for the Grand Prix. SIC is all set to #WelcomeHome all the local and international motorsports fans to Sepang after two years hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic and we will ensure the quality of Malaysia Grand Prix is at the highest level.
With no Malaysian riders competing full season in the Championship, I believe Damok will be the pull factor for Malaysians to cheer fellow Malaysian on the grid.
Chief Executive Officer of SIC, Azhan Shafriman Hanif
Special off-track activities for fans starts with the pre-event on Wednesday race week i.e; Public Cooking Contest showcasing talented MotoGP™ riders in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The ever-popular race weekend activities i.e; the Public Pit Lane Walk and Riders’ Autograph Session will take place on 21 October 2022 where fans can get up close and personal with their favourite riders.
PETRONAS is excited to see the return of MotoGP to Malaysia and it gives us great pride to headline the event, as the championship is synonymous with passion, innovation, pace and performance – values that resonates well with PETRONAS. As such, to celebrate the occasion, PETRONAS has lined up a series of thrilling family-friendly experiences on and off the track, including around KLCC which will be announced in due course.
The Grand Prix title sponsorship offers an opportunity for PETRONAS brand to grow and help re-energise Malaysia’s sports tourism and provides a unique platform for us to showcase PETRONAS Primax – the Official Fuel for the Moto2 and Moto3 championships – to the world.
PETRONAS Senior General Manager of Group Strategic Communications, Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz
Fans can anticipate getting their hands on special merchandise items to take home at the much-awaited Mega MotoGP™ Carnival with over 100 renowned brands and the Night Track Tour experience on Friday, 21 October to Saturday, 22 October 2022 is back on sale.
This year, SIC is proud to be FIRST Grand Prix to present a new lifestyle experience and a curated festival feel that combines local food and culture, outdoor, live music, art installations and unique activations under one roof.
The interesting catch for this year is the #MalaysianGP2022 Mega Lucky Draw contestwhere two lucky winners will win Yamaha NVX and Y15ZR bikes with SIC limited-edition livery worth RM22,000.
In conjunction with Merdeka Day, SIC is running a special promotion available starting today up to 31 August 2022 and the tickets can be purchased on www.sepangcircuit.com.
Please contact SIC Media Relations at mediarelations@sepangcircuit.com for further information.
