The racing vibes gets immersive during 2025 Autobacs SUPER GT series at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit as Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia’s 2025 Vios Challenge Round 2 Race 2 continues the action on track went door-to-door all the way to the chequered flag.
Round 2 had 36 drivers participating, including racers from Thailand, Singapore, and India. All three racing classes (Super Sporting, Sporting, and Rookie) raced together in a 1-hour event on the full 5.543 km Petronas Sepang International Circuit. This was different from the usual 10-lap sprint race.
The Vios Challenge took place alongside the Malaysian round of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT, organized by UMW Toyota Motor and Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia. A total of 28,524 fans watched on the first day of the race weekend, which returned to Malaysia after being gone for 12 years.
In the Super Sporting Class for professionals, Team Prima Pearl SP Selatan’s Mitchell Cheah quickly took the lead right after starting from the second row in the 1-hour race. Although a safety car was called out as early as lap 2, Cheah kept his lead while four other drivers fought for second and third places.
Laser Motor Racing’s Ady Rahimy finished second after a tough competition with his teammate Eddie Lew, Wheelcorp’s Nabil Azlan, and Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang, the winner of Race 1. Ang secured third place, earning his second podium of the weekend.
“It was a good race overall. I gained two positions on the start but I also lost two positions later when we had a safety car situation. I subsequently fought back, regained the lead and managed to open up a two-second gap and from then on it was a question of maintaining consistency and managing the tyre wear,” said Cheah.
“Towards the final stages of the race I just kept my head down and focused on being consistent to the chequered flag. A 1-hour race is definitely not easy and you just can’t afford to push from the start like a sprint race.”
In the Sporting Class for amateurs, Justin Toh and Elson Lew led a 1-2 finish for BAE Racing by ES Yang, while RUK Team Nexzter PMC 52’s Varunchit Wattanathanakun claimed his second straight third placing of the weekend.
The Rookie Class saw Justin Rahul Dev win, followed by Genevieve Ooi in second and Aydan Khaliq in third. This was Justin’s and Aydan’s second podium of the weekend (with Justin finishing 2nd and Aydan 1st in Race 1), and Ooi achieved her best finish since joining Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Young Talent Development Program in 2025.
“The race this afternoon was quite tough and of course it was made more challenging due to the extreme heat. Most importantly, I kept it clean, consistent and stayed clear of trouble,” said Genevieve.
“I was in a good position yesterday until contact with another rookie which caused a puncture. After coming into the pit for repairs, there was nothing much I could do.
On her sterling performance this race weekend, Genevieve added: “I’ve been working to enhance my physical fitness and to keep my mind focused. This is important in an endurance race and I have also learnt not to overthink things, so much so that it places unnecessary pressure on myself.”
Catch the 2025 Vios Challenge action or visit TGR Malaysia’s social media platforms at:
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For more information on race schedules, driver details and updates, visit: www.toyota.com.my/en/tgrmalaysia for full
ROUND 2, RACE 2 RESULTS
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
1. Mitchell Cheah Team Prima Pearl SP Selatan
2. Ady Rahimy Laser Motor Racing
3. Freddie Ang Telagamas Toyota
SPORTING CLASS
1. Justin Toh BAE Racing by ES Yang
2. Elson Lew BAE Racing by ES Yang
3. VarunchitWattanathanakun RUK Team Nexzter PMC 52
ROOKIE CLASS
1. Justin Rahul Dev
2. Genevieve Ooi
3. Aydan Khaliq