This weekend, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival featuring the Toyota Vios Challenge penultimate races will happen in Penang. This is Round 3 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and will happen at area surrounding Stadium Batu Kawan from 15-16 February 2020. If you have been following the Vios Challenge, the races this weekend would be critical in deciding the Super Sporting, Sporting and Promotional class championship. It is the last race of the season to be contested on a street circuit race before the series moves to the Sepang International Circuit in April.
Summarising the Toyota Vios Challenge, the first two races of Season 3 were held at specially prepared street circuits over in Kuala Terengganu and Bandar Malaysia. The four race weekend series will of course now end with the racers having a go at a proper race track, the Sepang Circuit. But before that, the folks at Penang will have a chance to witness seasoned racers, celebrities and beginners duke it out this weekend.
Commenting on why the upcoming races in Penang are important, Mr. Akio Takeyama, Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia's Chief Motorsports Officer said, “Penang can essentially make or break a driver’s championship campaign this season. For some, it will be the last chance to capitalize on their experience competing on a street circuit and hopefully build an almost unassailable lead in the championship. For others, it will be about fighting to narrow the gap in order to keep their championship hopes alive, enough to cause an upset when the racing moves to a permanent circuit.”
The Toyota Vios Challenge so far...
In the Super Sporting class for professional drivers, Tengku Djan Ley currently leads the point standings with 36 points, just 8 points adrift of Laser Motor’s Mark Darwin followed by Kenny Lee a further point behind.
There will be 17 drivers on the starting grid and every single Sporting class race has been close and competitive racing between the drivers. S&D Tama Motorsports’ and automotive journalist Tom Goh currently leads the standings with 28 points, just two points ahead of TGR debutante Haji Sutan Mustaffa Salihin. One point behind him is Crestmax Motorsport’s Adam Khalid followed by another TGR newcomer and young driver Bradley Benedict Anthony with 22 points.
Leading the Promotional class for celebrities meanwhile, is television presenter and comedian Nabil Ahmad who has a four point advantage over Season 1 overall champion Shawn Lee at 28 points, and singer Khai Bahar in third position. A total of 10 local celebrities will line-up on the grid in Penang who include Diana Danielle; Janna Nick; Shukri Yahaya; Nabila Razali; Wany Hasrita; Ain Edruce; and Syafiq Kyle.
Meanwhile, UMW Toyota Motor President Mr Ravindran K. stated that the TGR Festival returns to Penang for a third consecutive season and as usual, there will be numerous exciting activities for spectators and motorsports fans.
“The excitement of the TGR Festival is not confined to thrills and spills on the track, but includes so many activities for the family. It will feature the display and test drive of Toyota’s fleet of new vehicles, a drift performance, a racing simulator challenge, stage games, celebrity performances, promotional activities, lucky draws, the sale of merchandises, and a Super Fans Signing Session for a chance to mingle with the celebrities racing in the Promotional class. Also on display will be the flagship GR Supra." said Ravindran.
For fitness fans, the TGR Festival will also feature a fun run on the track as well as a zumba fitness session on Sunday. Registration is free with goodies limited to the first 500 participants. Also on display will be a Super GT race car in conjunction with the upcoming Malaysian round of the Super GT Championship at the Sepang International Circuit in July.
Other attractions include the display of a fully restored 1968 Toyota KE-10 model, a retro display by the Art of Speed, and a showcase of motorcycles and merchandise by Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Vespa and Moto Guzzi. Children’s activities include a bey blade competition, the sale of Hot Wheels die cast models, and a nerf gun competition.
The TGR Festival is open to the public from 9am on Saturday (15 February 2020) to Sunday (16 February 2020), and entrance is free, as it has been since it first started here three years or so ago.
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