Toyota Gazoo Racing and Vios Challenge Has Restarted Its Season 4’s Round 2

After seven months of delay, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Vios Challenge returned with many surprises and exciting moments. More than two million online viewers watched the event virtually due to the safety precautions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The most-waiting moment was during Round 2 of the Vios Challenge at the Sepang International Circuit, bringing a kickstart beginning to the season despite the unconditional weather. Whether wet or dry, its drivers are not stopping to unleash the beast in them during this cycle and complete their race.

There were four racing classes during the Vios Challenge, including five young racers of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Programme. They began their first race in a saloon car, which previously they were training with go-kart and simulator. There is also the Promotional Class where most celebrities and artists are in, the Sporting Class, and the Super Sporting Class.

Unlike Race 1, where it was hot and sunny throughout the day, Race 2 was racing under the rain where the track conditions were both slippery and poor visibility for the drivers.

A Malaysian touring car racer Mitchell Cheah and actor Shukri Yahaya stood out throughout the two-day race. Cheah won the Super Sporting Class Race 1 and came in second place in Race 2, while Shukri had back-to-back victories in the Promotional Class.

Cheah clocked 1 minute 25.618 seconds for pole position on Race 1 and drove his way to victory from start to finish in the 20-lap race. He was followed closely by Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin and M7 Japan Project Team’s Syafiq Ali in third place.

The slippery and poor visibility conditions seem to favour M7 Japan Project Team’s Syafiq in race 2, as he managed to finish in first from the fourth position, followed by Race 1’s winner Cheah and his teammate, Faidzil Alang.

As the rain got heavier, the race was eventually red-flagged on lap 10. Under safety car conditions, the race resumed minutes later, and Syafiq held his ground to take the chequered flag.

Shukri, on the other hand, dominated the Promotional Class race, starting from pole position on Race 1, and led the race from start to finish. Finishing second was Nabil Ahmad and Nabila Razali in Third. On Sunday's Race 2, Shukri once again finished top, from the fifth position. He was 7.1 seconds ahead of second-place Nabil Ahmad and followed closely by Zizan Razak. Both Shukri and Zizan now have a solid chance of clinching the overall championship in the Promotional Class this season.

As for the Sporting Class, Ady Rahimy of 23 Motors has managed to win Race 1 on his debut for the Vios Challenge. He picked up the chequered flag just 0.6 seconds ahead of Dream Chaser’s Bradley Benedict Anthony, with Distinctive Model’s Clement Yeo picking up the last podium spot.

The next day, x-factor Crestmax Motorsport’s Adam Khalid significantly impacted the race results when he stormed from 15th position on the starting grid and won the 20-lap race. Adam was ahead of Aylezo Motorsport’s Mirza Shahmi Mahzan and Eric Yong.

Moving to the Rookie Class, current championship leader Naquib Azlan bagged his third straight victory in three races for a perfect record for Race 1. Mika Hakimi and Amer Harris finished second and third, respectively. However, in Race 2, Naquib failed to make his fourth race win in a row as he finished in fourth position. 17-year-old Amer Harris took the chequered flag ahead of Mika Hakimi and 14-year-old Putera Adam.

This season we get to watch from young drivers to elite drivers and get them to accelerate their engine at the infamous Sepang track lane exclusive for this event, especially during this pandemic era.

Round 3 and the season finale of the Vios Challenge will be held on November 20 and 21, 2021, at Sepang International Circuit, but this time it will be a night race! Stay tuned for the latest news on the Vios Challenge.