Young Drivers Shine In Vios Challege 2025 Season Opener

The Vios Challenge 2025, organised under the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Malaysia banner, saw its season-opener held last weekend at Petronas SIC.

Organised by Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Malaysia, the Vios Challenge 2025 season-opener got underway last weekend at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit (SIC). During which, it was the series’ crop of up and coming new young talents that shined across all classes.

Like past seasons, last weekend’s season-opening races saw three competition classes – Super Sporting Class for pro drivers, Sporting Class for amateurs drivers, and Rookie Class class for young newbies – take to the 5.5 KM-long circuit for two  20-lap sprint races – one held on Saturday, and another on Sunday.

Notably, nine former Rookies from last season found themselves promoted into the Sporting Class this year, thus birthing some intense and dramatic door-to-door racing action as a result too. 

With nine former Rookie Class drivers promoted into the Sporting Class this season, it resulted with some thrilling, door-to-door racing action across both Race 1 and Race 2.

Victory in Satuday’s Race 1 in the Sporting Class was claimed by former Rookie class champion Adam Mikail driving for the G-Mart Motorsport team this year. Placing second was former fellow former Rookie class driver Jwan Hii from Hong Huat X Armada KK Racing, followed by Taj Izrin Aiman from Saksama Motorsports in third.

Seasoned readers will remember Taj as both an accomplished sim-racer and reigning TGR GT Cup Malaysia champion. This year, he now transitions to real world racing in the Vios Challenge 2025. Taj would elevate up to second place in Sunday’s Race 2 after battling with winner Elson Yew from BAE Racing by ES Yang.

Though Axle Sport’s Brandon Ho initially crossed the line and finished third, a post-race penalty prompted by a sporting infringement would see Ho lose out on the podium position. Instead, it was Thai-national Monai driving for RUK Team Nexzter PMC 52 that was promoted into third place.

As usual, competition in the pro drivers-led Super Sporting Class was as fierce as ever.

Moving to the pro drivers-led Super Sporting Class, Race 1 victory was clinched by Laser Motor Racing’s Ady Rahimy who bolted from pole position to command the race from start to finish. He fended off the advances of Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang and Wheelcorp’s Nabil Azlan in second and third places respectively.

A fierce battle would later ensue in this class in Sunday’s Race 2, which saw former class champion Mitchell Cheah driving for Prima Pearl TD Racing take the win. Weelcorp’s Nabil once again found himself on the podium, this this upping the ante to claim second ahead of Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Lew who placed third.

This season, the Rookie Class drivers continue to hone their skills using the older-gen TGR Vios one-make race machine.

As for the Rookie Class, top honours in Saturday's Race 1 was clinched by 19-year-old recreational karter and sim-racer Harkiesh Geeva. Coming in second was 18-year-old pro karter Aydan Khaliq, whereas 21-year-old pro karter Justin Rahul Dev completed the podium by placing third.

Sunday’s Race 2 for this class saw 18-year-old sim-racer Ian James storming to take the race lead early on and command the race from start to finish to clinch victory. Taking second place back-to-back here was Aydan Khaliq, whilst 20-year-old Genevieve Ooi, the class’ sole female competitor, took a surprise third place finish.

The weekend's winners from all three classes taking their trophies and prize monies in a special ceremony held post-race on Sunday.

With Round 1 now concluded, the Vios Challenge 2025 one-make series resumes for Round 2 on June 27 and 28 at Petronas SIC once again. This round will also be streamed live online via both the official TGR Malaysia YouTube channel and TGR Malaysia Facebook page.

Additional details are also available online via the TGR Malaysia official webpage, as well as the official TGR Malaysia Instagram page.