Race 1 in Round 3 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia VIOS Challenge 2025 featured exciting and intense racing. What started as a one-hour endurance race quickly turned into a sprint from start to finish.
The competition on the full 5.543km Petronas Sepang International Circuit was fierce across all three racing classes: the Super Sporting Class for professionals, the Sporting Class for amateurs, and the Rookie Class for graduates of Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Young Talent Development Program.
In the Super Sporting Class, Amer Harris took the lead from pole position and won, making a successful return to a series that had previously helped him rise in local and international racing.
“It’s great to be back racing here and being away from the normal stress,” said the former Rookie Class graduate.
“I hope to keep this momentum going into tomorrow’s second race. This is important because this weekend’s round offers double points and if I can do well here as well as in the fourth and final round, I stand a good chance of finishing in the top five positions in the overall championship. That is my target considering I missed the first two rounds of the season”
The race began with all 37 drivers starting together and quickly turned dramatic when Eddie Lew, a seasoned driver for Laser Motor Racing, crashed into the wall right after the race started. This caused a safety car situation to clear away the wreck.
Once the race resumed after two laps behind the safety car, Amer from KMS 333 Motorsports took the lead, followed closely by Nagdev and Freddie Ang from Telagamas Toyota in third. These positions remained the same at the end of the race.
In the Sporting Class, the competition was intense, with four drivers taking turns in the lead: Dato’ Dr Ken Foo from Kulim Topwheels, Nick THZ from Sokudo Racing by ES Yang, Justin Toh from BAE Racing by ES Yang, and Jwan Hii from Hong Huat X Armada KK Racing.
On lap 12, Nick and Toh collided several times, which resulted in Toh pushing Nick off the track. This allowed Foo to take back the lead, with Hii moving into second place.
However, Toh picked up speed and reclaimed the lead two laps later. The fight for victory lasted until the last lap, and Hii won the race. Taj Izrin Aiman from Saksama Motorsports finished third. After the race, Toh was disqualified for the incident, which moved Taj Izrin and Foo to second and third place.
In the Rookie Class, Harkiesh Geeva won from pole position, with Ian James finishing second and Justin Rahul Dev in third. While Ian and Justin swapped places during the race, Harkiesh maintained a strong lead, finishing 13 seconds ahead and ranking as high as 20th overall.
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ROUND 3, RACE 1 RESULTS
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
1. Ames Harris KMS 333 Motorsports
2. Aman Nagdev Axle Sports
3. Freddie Ang Telagamas Toyota
SPORTING CLASS
1. Jwan Hii Hong Huat X Armada KK Racing
2. Taj Izrin Aiman Saksama Motorsports
3. Dato’ Dr Ken Foo Kulim Topwheels
ROOKIE CLASS
1. Harkiesh Geeva
2. Ian James
3. Justin Rahul Dev