The Season 7’s Toyota GAZOO Racing Vios Challenge Round 3 Race 1 has brought a door-to-door racing, heavy rain, and a close points difference as racers geared up for the final race tomorrow (Sunday, December 5, 2025) at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit.
It a winner takes all situation in the Super Sporting, Sporting and Rookie Classes compete in one last 20-lap showdown around the 5.543km circuit and with RM300,000 at stake for the top three overall winners in the two premier classes.
Season 7, which started in August last year, features three rounds and six races, with a total prize pool of RM630,000. This includes RM330,000 for winners across the three rounds. In the Super Sporting Class, the overall champion will receive RM80,000, the runner-up RM60,000, and third place RM40,000. In the Sporting Class, prizes are RM60,000 for the winner, RM40,000 for the runner-up, and RM20,000 for third place.
In the Super Sporting Class for professionals, FIAJB Boulevard Racing’s Ady Rahimy did not put a foot wrong as he led the 20-lap race from pole position to finish 1.2 seconds ahead of Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang who came in 2nd and Axle Sports’ Naquib Azlan who settled for 3rd.
Race 1’s win was Ady’s first after enduring an extremely challenging Season 7 trying to come to grips with the new 4th generation Toyota Vios that resulted in two retirements.
“To be honest the team and I didn’t expect to have such a great result this weekend as we do not have enough racing data with the new car but thankfully we managed to qualified quickest and somehow everything fell into place for the race win,” said Ady.
“I just gave it my best and hopefully we can return an equally strong result in race 2 tomorrow (Sunday).”
With the overall championship at stake between Naquib Azlan and Prima Pearl TD Racing’s Mitchell Cheah, strategy was also at play in Race 1 which saw the former conceding his second position to Ang in the very last corner leading up to the chequered flag.
“The result was part of the overall strategy. I did try to go for the overall win but Ady was too strong and when I couldn’t find a way through, we fell back on plan B,” said Naquib.
“The chance of winning the overall championship between Cheah and I are almost identical. Essentially, one has to finish ahead of the other because the points are so close between us. As of now I will be starting Race 2 ahead of Cheah on the grid and let’s just hope I can keep it that way throughout the race.”
The battle of the young guns in the Rookie Class meanwhile, also saw the top three qualifiers going on to win the race. Raja Amirul Syauqat won the race from pole position, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Brandon Ho and Adam Mikail who qualified second and third quickest respectively.
“I would like to say thank you to UMW Toyota and Gazoo Racing Malaysia for giving me this opportunity to take part in their Young Talent Development Program and to subsequently drive a race car in the Rookie Class. I came into Season 7 not expecting to win considering I am in the company of more experienced and accomplished young drivers. I had no experience racing and simulator racing was also new to me,” said 21-year-old Raja Amirul.
The overall winner of the Rookie Class will also be decided between two individuals – 22-year-old recreational karter Ho and 18-year-old pro karter Adam.
“Everyone in the program has been super competitive from the very start. Adam and I have been the more consistent and we’ve been neck to neck throughout the season. We take every session and race very seriously. Adam has placed a lot of pressure on me and this has also helped me to become a better driver,” said Ho. “All in all it has been a very good a healthy competition.”
Asked how badly he wanted to win the overall title, Adam meanwhile, said: “Very, very badly! Coming from other karting and car racing series, the exposure I’ve gotten competing in the Vios Challenge has contributed immensely to me becoming a better driver. It has allowed be to adapt to different cars and elevate my racing skills.”
The Sporting Class race for amateurs was delayed due to heavy showers, and resumed behind the safety car for six laps before Nick THZ of Sokudo Racing pelted to the front to lead the race from start to finish. Finishing 2nd was HLT Crestmax Motorsports’ Dannies Ng who was 2.2 seconds adrift while in 3rd was Kulim Topwheels’ Dato’ Ken Foo Kwok Hsing.
For Nick, the race weekend began strongly with him qualifying second fastest and going on to win the race and making his first ever appearance on the podium.
“I tried to be as consistent as I could in the race, especially in the rain, and to avoid making any mistakes. The set-up of the car this weekend was perfect and I hope to achieve a strong result in Race 2 tomorrow.”
For more information or to catch the race broadcast live over UMW Toyota Motor’s social media platforms, log on to www.toyota.com.my/en/tgrmalaysia, youtube.com/tgrmalaysia, and instagram.com/tgrmalaysia.
RACE RESULTS – DAY 1
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
1. Ady Rahimy FIAJB Boulevard Racing
2. Freddie Ang Telagamas Toyota
3. Naquib Azlan Axle Sports
SPORTING CLASS
1. Nick THZ Sokudo Racing
2. Dannies Ng HLT Crestmax Motorsports
3. Dato Ken Foo Kulim Topwheels
ROOKIE CLASS
1. Raja Amirul Syauqat
2. Brandon Ho
3. Adam Mikail