The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Challenge Season 7 is concluding this weekend (4 & 5 January 2025) at the 5.543km Petronas Sepang International Circuit. Fans and racing enthusiasts can anticipate two or three new overall champions, with three contenders in each of the three categories: Super Sporting Class for top drivers, Sporting Class for amateurs, and Rookie Class for younger drivers.
Season 7 has proved to be more challenging and unpredictable for the drivers due to the new fourth generation Vios, which has required the 34 drivers to adapt to its new features. For the first time, drivers from Thailand, Singapore, and India joined in. Although it will be a closed event, it will be broadcast live on all of UMW Toyota Motor’s social media platforms.
Season 7 which began in August last year, consists of three rounds and six individual races offering a combined RM630,000 in prize monies which includes RM330,000 paid out to race winners in the three individual rounds.
In the closely-contested premier Super Sporting Class, the overall championship is still anyone’s race with five drivers having a mathematical chance of being crowned champion.
The top three drivers with the best chances are Naquib Azlan from Axle Sport, defending champion Mitchell Cheah from Prima Pearl TD Racing, and Freddie Ang from Telagamas Toyota. There are also two other drivers, Amer Harris from Laser Motor Racing and former champion Hayden Haikal from TD Racing, who have a slim chance of winning but need to win both races this weekend to improve their odds.
The prizes are RM80,000 for the overall champion, RM60,000 for the runner-up, and RM40,000 for third place.
“I believe the team and I are capable of bringing this championship win home. Mitchell is a strong competitor and it definitely will not be a walk in the park but yes, I am confident that we can do it,” said Super Sporting championship prospect Naquib. Super Sporting is the only title that eludes him having worked his way up into the elite class after winning the Rookie Class 2021 and Sporting Class in 2022.
“Regarding preparation, I would love to be behind the wheel of my car to prepare but with that not being possible I just keep myself fresh by being on the simulator and turn to a lot of self reflection to see where I can improve heading into this final round.”
The Sporting Class remains very competitive, with many drivers sharing the podium over the past 7 seasons. Like the Super Sporting Class, the championship is still undecided, but three clear favorites have emerged: Elson Lew from BAE Racing by ES Young, who won the last two races; Kenneth Koh from PCM Group Racing Team, consistent on the podium with one win, one second, and two third places in the last four races; and Shafiq Samsudin from Race Rally KL, with one win and one third place. To secure the 2024 championship, a driver needs at least two race wins.
For Koh, Season 7 is shaping up as his best shot at the overall title so far since joining the series in 2017 but Lew’s back to back victory in Round 2 also sees the former Rookie Class driver hungry to win and move up into the premier class for a chance of racing alongside his father – veteran racer Eddie Lew.
They will be fighting for prize monies amounting to RM60,000, RM40,000 and RM20,000 for the winner, runner-up and third place overall finishes.
In the Rookie Class of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program, 18-year-old Adam Mikail leads with three wins in four races. However, 22-year-old Brandon Ho has been the most consistent, securing four podiums with one win, two second places, and one third place. Another competitor, 21-year-old Raja Amirul Syauqat, started with a fourth and fifth place but improved with a second and third place finish in the latest races.
“Coming into the final round I feel quite confident as I clearly see the chance for me to win the overall rookie title. I see the other competitors continuously improving and so that pushes me to keep training,” said Adam.
“I continue to work on my stamina and overall fitness to prepare for this upcoming race as I believe that fitness is the key to consistency, and consistency is what I am aiming for.”
For fellow rookie Ho, his recent stint competing in the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race has been strong enough motivation to do well this weekend.
“To win the overall title will be challenging but I’ll do my best and push for the title. Preparation for the final round is doing great. A podium finish in S1K definitely helped me prepare for this final round especially in terms of stamina because I successfully completed a 5-hour stint in S1K. I am ensuring that I maintain my fitness level by frequently working out.
“Going into the final round of the season as a rookie, my goal is definitely to extract as much points as I can from both remaining races as the gap in points to the championship leader is only 14 points.”
The race weekend will also set the stage for the launch of the face lifted GR Corolla and Corolla GR Sport, and reintroduction of the GR Yaris.
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