Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia aiming for hattrick in S1K

Toyota will defend its title in the 2023 Sepang 1000 KM Endurance Race (S1K) which will be on from November 23 to 26. If the team succeeds, it will be a hattrick of podium finishes since it joined the annual event in 2021. For this year’s entry, Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia will field its sole entry and S1K defending champions Tengku Djan Ley and Naquib Azlan who will use the same 2022-winning Toyota Vios in the MTC Class.

Additionally, Toyota will be represented by two Yaris hatchbacks fielded by dealer team Wing Hin Motorsports, also in the MTC Class. The cars will be driven by Boy Wong and former GAZOO Racing Rookie Class driver Amer Harris.

Tengku Djan Ley and Naquib Azlan on the podium in 2022. Will this scene be repeated this weekend?

“Both the Vios and Yaris have proven to be strong contenders in what is undoubtedly an extremely gruelling race. Over and above the racing achievements, what is more important to us is that it has underlined the durability, reliability, and handling of both models in the most challenging of conditions,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Datuk Ravindran K.

S1K will also see the running of the third GAZOO Racing (GR) Vios Enduro Cup within the S1K’s SP 2 Class. This event has evolved to become a very popular season finale for drivers already competing in the GR Vios Challenge and GR Vios Sprint Cup. Like previous years, the GR Vios Enduro Cup continues to attract both a pool of experienced and young drivers, and this year’s entries not only include teenage drivers, but also a father and son pair, a team comprising of husband and wife, as well as several lady drivers.

In the SP2 Class and GR Vios Enduro Cup, a total of 11 cars will be competing. Top contenders to look out for include the Axle Sports pair of Alister Yoong who will pair up with 2023 Vios Challenge Rookie class champion Ariff Azmi.

A definite favourite will be 23 Motors’ Abdul Miqail and Amir Mirza, both also regular contenders in the GR Vios Challenge. Abdul Miqail was the winner of the GR Vios Enduro Cup in 2022 and finished third in 2021. 23 Motors that clinched the top two positions last year, will also be fielding a second car piloted by Daniel Haqeem Azwan.

The GR Vios Enduro Cup will also see the debut for the father and son team of Shanmuganathan Arumugam and Ashen Shanmuganathan; the husband and wife pair of Shafiq Samsudin (and Shasha Shafie); and two other lady drivers Adele Lew – another GAZOO Racing Rookie Class driver – and Nurul Auni Nasharuddin.

The first place winner in the GR Vios Enduro Cup will take home RM10,000 cash, with RM8,000 for the second place winner; RM6,000 for the third place winner; RM4,000 (4th placing); and RM2,000 (5th place winner).

“We (Tengku Djan and I) were fifth fastest in qualifying in 2021 but we failed to finish the race. To move on from this disappointment to eventually win the overall race last year was certainly a fantastic result for the team, more so since we also started from pole position and going on to cross the finish line 6.2 seconds ahead our nearest rival. The MTC Class has always been super competitive and we expect it to be no different this year, but with the right package and strategy this year, we hope we can go on to successfully defend the title,” said Naquib.

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