TGR Vios Challenge 2024 Round 2 Shines Through Sunday Thunderstorm

33 drivers in total to took the grid at the Petronas SIC last weekend for round 2 of the TGR Vios Challenge 2024 one-make racing series.

Season 7 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Challenge (TGR Vios Challenge 2024) marked its second round last weekend at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

Adding to the challenge to all 33 drivers competing on Sunday was an afternoon thunderstorm that eventually provided drivers with a different challenge in the form of a wet and still-drying track, prompting much closer racing action here.

Race 1 on Saturday for the Pro-level Super Sporting Class got off to a dramatic start following a major crash involving class favourite Tengku Djan Ley and William Ho.

Starting in the Pro-level Super Sporting Class, Saturday’s Race 1 for the class saw the Safety Car deployed following a major incident involving class favourite Tengku Djan Ley and William Ho. The former overshot his braking point in Turn 1 and subsequently collided his Saksama Motorsports’ machine into the latter’s Toyotsu Racing machine.

The race later resume with great intensity, but it was pole-sitter Amer Haris from the Laser Motor Racing team who clinched the win. He was joined on the podium by Telagamas Toyota team’s Freddie Ang in second whilst series regular Mitchell Cheah completed Race 1’s podium by placing third for the Prima Pearl TD Racing team.

Competition levels of the semi-pro drivers in the Sporting Class and youngsters in the Rookie Class proved equally tight on Saturday as well.

Over in the Semi-Pro Sporting Class, former Rookie Class driver Elson Lew won the class’ first race of the weekend, thus clinching his debut class win for the BAE Racing by ES Young team. Joining Lew on the podium was Super Evergreen Motorsport’s Amirul Haikal in second, whilst series regular and repeat podium contender Kenneth Koh placed third for the PCM Group Racing Team.

Moving in to the Rookie Class and Saturday’s Race 1 saw top honour claimed by Brandon Ho. Completing the podium for this class on Saturday were Amirul Afiq in second and Raja Amirul Syauqat in third. Despite racing with the older-gen Vios one-make racecar, the competition in this class proved equally stiff and charged as the other two classes.

Sunday's Race 2 for the pro-level Super Sporting Class saw both a reverse grid and Safety Car start following a thunderstorm. Coming out on top here was TD Racing's Hayden Haikal.

Race 2 on Sunday saw Pro drivers in the Super Sporting Class start off with a novel reverse grid format, and the challenge was compounded further by the decision of a Safety Car start by officials prompted by a light thunderstorm that delayed proceedings by 30 minutes. Thankfully, the Safety Car peeled in after just three laps before drivers competed at full-speed.

Eventually, it was TD Racing’s Hayden Haikal who maximised his position resulting from the reverse grid format and mastered the tricky post-rain track conditions to claim victory. Joining him were Race 1 podium-sitters Freddie Ang and Mithcell Cheah who each placed second and third once again in Race 2.

Former Rookie Class driver Elson Lew charted his first back-to-back race wins in the Sporting Class whilst Adam Mikail took top honour in the Rookie Class on Sunday.

Over in the Sporting Class, Race 1 winner Elson Lew was able to repeat his winning form and claimed victory once again for BAE Racing by ES Young. Kenneth Koh, on the other hand, elevated himself a position higher in second place in Race 2 for the PCM Group Racing Team, whilst Thai driver Panithan Rakpaibulsombut completed the podium after he placed third for RUK Team Nexzter PMC 52.

Lastly, in the Rookies Class, which also saw a reverse grid start format, saw Race 1 winner Brandon Ho relegated to third instead behind Raja Amirul Syauqat who placed second once again. Top honour for Race 2 in this class was instead clinched by Adam Mikail who had previously aced both races in Round 1 earlier this year.

One of the dramatic sights from Sunday's programme, which delayed proceeding by 30 minutes.

With two rounds now concluded, the TGR Vios Challenge 2024 will now pause before setting up for its season-ending Grand Finale Festival slated for Jan 3 to Jan 5, 2025 at the Petronas SIC once again. 

Unlike the initial two rounds, said Grand Finale Festival will be opened to spectators, but racing action from which will still be streamed live online via the official TGR Malaysia Facebook and YouTube pages. By the way, you can also relive last weekend’s action through both platforms mentioned.