This weekend, Sepang International Circuit is hosting Round 2 of the 2021 Toyota Vios Challenge. The race recommences after a seven-month hiatus as a result of the full lockdown imposed due to the worsening daily COVID-19 cases.
Although we are moving towards a great recovery, unfortunately for fans of racing and their favourite celebrities, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival will again be held behind closed doors without the presence of spectators in adherence to strict SOPs.
Similar to Round 1 that was held back in March, Round 2 will also use the Sepang North Track for this entire weekend of October 23rd and 24th. With a high average speed combining two long straights and tight corners, plenty of Toyota Vios racing action is guaranteed across all four categories.
Qualifying sessions in the morning will set the pace for Saturday before moving to the first race of Round 2 scheduled at 2:45 P.M. The battle of the rookies from the Gazoo Racing Young Talent Development Program is currently led by Naquib Azlan, who won both races in Round 1, will be in hot pursuit by his fellow rookies who are 14-year old Putera Adam, Jwan Hii, Amer Harris, Mika Hakimi and Troy Eimann.
The rookies will start their 2:45 P.M. Race 1 together with Malaysia’s top motorsport athletes in the Super Sporting category. Big names such as Mark Darwin, Keifli Othman, Syafiq Ali and Brendan Paul Anthony will be pushing their hardest to close the point gap that current championship leader Tengku Djan Ley has built up thanks to his dominance at March’s Race 1. Tengku Djan is also carrying a success ballast of 40 kg entering Race 1 of Round 2.
Fans of local celebrities such as Nabila Razali, Nabil Ahmad, singer-songwriter Talitha Tan as well as Ahirine Ahirudin will get to watch racing action of the Toyota Vios GR Sport machines from 3:35 P.M. The entertainment personalities will then take centre stage from 5:08 P.M. for their respective performances.
The ever-competitive Sporting category which has a field of 19 Toyota Vios Challenge cars will begin racing at 4:25 P.M. The category with varied skill levels has representatives from Toyota dealers, budding racing drivers as well as amateurs competing for top honours.
Sunday will see the second day of racing action, starting with the Race 2 of the Super Sporting and Rookie categories at 1:15 P.M., followed by Sporting category at 2:15 P.M. and the Promotional category ending the weekend and Round 2 from 3:15 P.M. All times as subject to change, as the weather plays a significant effect as seen in March’s first race of the weekend.
All the two days of racing action of Round 2, plus entertainment during the break, will be broadcast live on the Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Facebook and Youtube pages, the Toyota Malaysia Facebook page and the UMW Toyota Motor website.
Round 2, Race 1, Saturday
- 2:45 – Super Sporting and Rookie
- 3:35 – Promotional
- 4:25 – Sporting
- 5:08 – Off the grid performances by TGR Celebrities and friends
Round 2, Race 2, Sunday
- 1:15 – Super Sporting and Rookie
- 2:15 – Sporting
- 3:15 – Promotional
- 3:52 – Off the grid Finale performances
