The programme scouted and drafted six young racers (based on their karting and sim-racing accomplishments, overall performance and level of commitment) to be coached before being provided with the opportunity to compete in Season 4 of the Toyota Vios Challenge series.
They are, sim racers Mika Hakimi, 17 years old and Naquib Azlan, 20 years old; and karters Amer Harris, 17 years old; Jwan Hii, 18 years old; Putera Adam, 14 years old; and Troy Eimann, 16 years old.
“One of the principal achievements of the Toyota Vios Challenge has been its ability to not only attract young racers but giving them an equal opportunity to excel competing alongside more experienced racers,” said Gazoo Racing Malaysia Chief Motorsports Officer Akio Takeyama.
“In three seasons of the Toyota Vios Challenge, we have noticed a stream of young drivers making their way into the series. Affordability and cost of participation has certainly played a significant part in this but its one-make race format has also provided young drivers as well as newcomers with a fair and level playing field in terms of racing as they compete against more experienced drivers.
"This and the combination of having to drive in a super competitive environment has resulted in an accelerated learning curve.
“The success of the series in nurturing young talent could not have been better validated than with the crowning of 16-year-old Hayden Haikal as the Sporting Class champion in Season 3 with another teenage driver, 18-year-old Bradley Benedict Anthony clinching second place overall in what was only his first year of saloon car racing, both of whom were karters making the transition up to saloon car racing,” he said.
Takeyama also said the Gazoo Racing Young Talent Development Programme underlined Toyota’s continued investment and commitment towards the development of Malaysian motorsports.
The past three seasons of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Toyota Vios Challenge, was ultimately about bringing motorsports to the masses, cultivating greater awareness, interest and appreciation in motor-racing.
The concept of racing on specially-built street circuits not only made motor-racing even more accessible and approachable to the general public, but it provided competitors with the challenge and experience of competing on unique purpose-built tracks that placed greater emphasis on precision driving, enabling them to build both their confidence and skills.
“Moving forward, the Toyota Vios Challenge will continue to build on competitive driving with Gazoo Racing expanding its involvement in Malaysian motorsports, including providing a platform for young drivers who are moving up to the higher levels of motor-racing,” he said.
Like previous seasons, the Toyota Vios Challenge retains its one-make format which will see all competitors in the Super Sporting, Sporting, Promotional and Rookie Classes competing in identically race-prepared Toyota Vios sedans.
Toyota will also provide race cars to racers in the Rookie Class.
The Toyota Vios Challenge (Season 3 - Round 2) was held in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur last November.
Takeyama said racers in this programme would undergo intensive training both on and off the track under the close guidance of instructors at the Gazoo Racing School beginning this month and must satisfy a number of criteria before being certified competent to race.
The racers must also fulfill all conditions for the issuance of a national competition licence (circuit racing) by Malaysia’s motor-racing governing body the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM).
“The principles of racing remain the same, but the dynamics of competing in a kart and on a simulator compared to that of driving a saloon car are entirely different and this is an area the selected racers will spend a great deal of time assimilating to.
"The goal is to not only provide them with a stepping stone into saloon car racing but to ensure that the they are able to make this transition while retaining the level of competitiveness they have each demonstrated in their various fields,” said Takeyama.
UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K., Gazoo Racing and Toyota’s growing presence in Malaysian motorsports has collaboratively helped to develop both the sport and brand as more dynamic, vibrant, emotive and exhilarating entities.
“The commitment from the onset had been to establish an even bigger footprint in Malaysian motorsports and to be in the position to give Malaysian motorsports a further boost.
"In three seasons we have been able to make an impactful difference by establishing a series that ran on purpose-built street tracks instead of at traditional racing circuits. That successfully attracted not only first time competitors but also amateur and professional racers to the series.
"We even succeeded in grooming a number of local celebrities who have gone on to becoming competitive racers.
"With Season 4, we intend to take this one step further by providing young racers with a gateway into the higher levels of motor-racing,” he said.
