SEPANG: Porsche Malaysia, represented by Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP), kicked off the Malaysian leg of the 22nd Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA) one-make race series.
Held at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit for Rounds 5, 6, and 7, the Malaysian stage is one of the most highly anticipated stops of the season.
Featuring two days of high-intensity sprint races and the return of the crowd-favourite endurance race, with every driver fielding identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) cars over the 5.543km track.
The endurance race saw Sime Motors Racing field two entries: car number 17, driven by Malaysian racer Nazim Azman, and car number 38, helmed by British driver and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain third-place winner Hugo Ellis.
Hugo and Nazim.
The duo, while trying to make their respective marks with a podium finish, began their charge from seventh and tenth place, respectively.
The two drivers managed to cross the finish line for all three races of Rounds five, six, and seven.
While Nazim managed to secure seventh, sixth and fourth place, Hugo finished in fourth, tenth and seventh place.
This allowed both drivers to score 48 points to place Sime Motors Racing in third place with 114 points - after Team Shanghai Yonoda BWT (167) and Toro Racing (120).
In the endurance category, Dylan Pereira (from Luxembourg) leads with 79 points, with New Zealander Marco Giltrap in second with 53 and Italian Enzo Trulli with 43.
Nazim currently stands in sixth place with 33 points, while Hugo is in seventh with 29, tied with fellow Briton Josh Rowledge.
In the driver's overall points challenge (after Rounds 5, 6 and 7), Pereira leads the standings with 175 points while Trulli is in second place with 102 points and Hugo, a close third, currently has 96.
“Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is more than just a race; it's a celebration of motorsport culture and community. Motorsport is in our DNA and we’re thrilled to bring the excitement back to Sepang," said SDAP chief executive officer Christopher Hunter.
Fans can watch Sime Motors Racing in action for the next leg of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia at the Bangsaen Street Circuit in Thailand for Rounds eight and nine from July 4 to 6.
The season continues with Rounds 10, 11 and 12 being held at the Mandalika International Circuit in Lombok, Indonesia (Aug 22-24), and will end with Rounds 13 and 14 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore (Oct 4-5).
