The pair drove to a sterling and almost identical wins in Race 1 and 2 of the latest race series from Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Unlike Saturday’s Race 1 which was held in blistering heat, Sunday's Race 2 got underway after being delayed twice and just after a heavy downpour subsided making conditions around the 5.543km circuit even more challenging and slippery.
Mika (Left) and Tengku Djan.
Race 2’s grid was made up of 19 cars or 38 drivers, with the inclusion of Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Liew and Putera Adam who were able to overcome a technical problem that eliminated the pair from starting Race 1.
In a reverse grid format, yesterday’s winning pair of Tengku Djan and Mika started Race 2 in sixth position and carrying weight penalties.
On pole position was the Vios driven by the pair of Ady Rahimy and 16-year-old Abdul Miqail, followed by Laser Motor racing’s Mark Darwin and Bradley Benedict Anthony, while in third position was Axle Motorsports’ Hayden Haikal and Naquib Azlan who finished fourth in Race 1.
Starting from fourth on the grid was S&D Tama Motorsports’ Tom Goh and Freddie Ang who was yesterday’s third place winner.
The Gazoo Racing Vios Sprint Cup was held in conjunction with the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) and features two 1-hour races over the weekend, with two-driver teams competing in three generations of Vios vying for total prize monies amounting to RM60,000.
The champion in each of the two races at the GR Vios Sprint Cup won RM10,000 cash, followed by RM8,000 for the first
runner up, RM6,000 to the third place winner, and RM4,000 and RM2,000 for the fourth and fifth place winners respectively.
With only three laps remaining, Tengku Djan piled on the pressure to move from third to first, emulating a move his partner Mika did the previous day to win Race 1, and once in front, his lead would grow from 1.3 seconds to 4.5 seconds by the time he took the chequered flag.
Boy secured second place, with Hayden finishing third, Eddie in fourth position and fifth place going to the M7
Japan Project Team’s Fariqe Hairuman and Tarmimi Tahang.
Tengku Djan said the race is all about team work and both drivers must have similar pace, and only then would they have a fighting chance.
“Mika has been able to keep his cool throughout the race weekend and on top of that he has the speed. We have to work as a team, there must be a sharing of knowledge, and you can’t do everything yourself,” said Tengku Djan.
UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the Vios Sprint Cup and its format of a one-hour race with a driver change has certainly introduced new dynamics to the racing many of the drivers who are already competing in the Vios Challenge used to.
“As you know UMW Toyota Motors’ foray into Malaysian motorsports began with the introduction of a street racing series.
“That has since evolved to include races on the half and full track length at Sepang International Circuit, the organizing of a night race, the introduction of a programme to develop young drivers and creating a Rookie Class, and even participation in the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race last year as well as the running of the Vios Enduro Cup.
“These elements combined are in line with our efforts to contribute to not only growing interest in motorsports, but to make it even more exciting for both the participating teams and drivers, as well as spectators and enthusiasts,” he said.
For details, visit www.toyota.com.my.
GR Vios Sprint Cup – Race 2 results
1. Tengku Djan Ley/Mika Hakimi - Prima Pearl TD Racing
2. Boy Wong/Nabil Azlan - Axle Motorsports
3. Hayden Haikal/Naquib - Azlan Axle Motorsports
4. Eddie Liew/Putera Adam - Laser Motor Racing
5. Fariqe Hairuman/Tarmimi Tahang - M7Japan Project Racing Team
