UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has expanded the Vios Challenge one-make race series to 40 cars, 10 more than the initial 30 cars due to demand from eager racers.
Launched in April, the Vios Challenge will be the headlining event at the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival that will kick off in Penang next month. UMWT has gathered local celebrities to take part in the series, and they are Danny Koo, Geraldine Gan, Venice Min, Shawn Lee, Diana Danielle, Shukri Yahaya, Fattah Amin and the super hot Janna Nick.
“The interest in the Vios Challenge had been overwhelming. We’ve had so many requests by racers who wanted to purchase a car and compete in the Vios Challenge but due to safety and logistics concerns, we have had to restrict the field to a maximum of 40 cars for this season,” said UMWT president Ravindran Kurusamy.
In addition to over a dozen newcomers to racing, the series will now be joined by established names such as “Prince of Drift” Tengku Djan, his Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) great rival Boy Wong and former Malaysian Super Series (MSS) winner James Veerappan, among other racers.
Joining the race as a competitor himself, UMWT deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said that he was looking forward to the challenge. “I am very excited to be taking part in my first race in the Vios Challenge. I have been working hard in the racing school and I have learned so much from my instructors. I can’t wait for the race to begin.
“I hope that Malaysian motorsports fans will come to the TGR Racing Festivals and enjoy all that we have planned. With the intense level of competition on the race track, the carnival-like atmosphere, celebrity performances and all the fun-filled activities, I believe that the TGR Racing Festival will be an event like we’ve never seen before,” Takeyama said.
As for the race car, it’s based on a Vios 1.5J manual but with a 10% power hike (the 2NR-FE makes 107 PS/140 Nm stock) and track-essential mods. TRD parts include an aerodynamic kit, exhaust system, clutch and limited-slip differential (LSD), suspension system, brake pads, tower bar and lower brace bars, and a full roll cage.
Also on are 15-inch Enkei rims with 195/50 Toyo Proxes tyres, a Motec C125 racing display, a fire suppression system, OMP’s Corsica Superleggero steering wheel, an OMP First-R racing seat and tow hooks at both ends. The cars were prepared by Wing Hin Motorsports in Malaysia.
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Normal ah beng drivers pls dun drive Vios like these racers do. These cars are modified and d drivers are trained. Your Vios dun even hav d basic stability control, not to say othr safety features.
Bro which year are you from. Vios got stability control lahh..Almera stil missing until now
Vios now VSC standard leh..please do research dont simply bash like an idiot son
still, the vios got crappy chassis . not suitable for racing
I was misled, thank you for your comment.
Waste of time and energy. Toyota UMW should concentrate and put their energy and efforts in giving customers cars with 6 airbags instead of 2.
All this racing all have no meaning when your day to day cars are so dangerous. Vios only 2 airbags and Hilux still got no VSC on lower models.
Please lah UMW. Please be more responsible. Racing all secondary. Not important. Safety is most important.
We Malaysians want to see VSC in the Hilux and also Vios having 6 airbags. If Picanto can do it, why Vios cannot?
OMG…..when sales dip,UMW is doing the same thing protong has been doing…carnivals,racing,etc.
Now raya is over,sales is slowing…so they come out with these FAILED promotional marketing techniques.
Like u said,they should UPGRADE SPECS AT LOWER PRICES.
When we buy cars from UMW,it has never been WIN WIN .It has been customers LOSE LOSE LOSE.
Just shambolic UMW ripoff the car buyers in order to send record profits back to HQ for yr end DIVIDENDS.
No wonder Honda Malaysia is thriving.
Honda…the power of dreams
Toyota..the power of exploitation(I mean UMW)
P1 used pipu $$$, Go rally.
It’s MEM Motorsport, tarak baca ka?
“UMWT deputy chairman Akio Takeyama” oh wai….
I find it funny that you have dual personality. One hand you seem to really hate every Toyota article. One hand you seem ‘concerned’ on what Toyota should give to you. You work with Honda? :D
UMW made racing a reality for the masses. Toyota, Going Places.
Vios weekend racing @ LDP since 2002. 15 years of ahbeng legacy
Mat rempit daily @ KESAS & DUKE
R we still talking about vios or u went o tangent again?
The only spectators during the race will be Vios wannabe racer aka Mr Ah Beng!
Whats that about someone say something, like shiok sendri? Mana itu orang?
sam loo racing team
What is interesting is the UMWT Japanese chairman will be racing as well. Wonder if those celebrities can drive. haha
It is a marketing strategy by UMW Toyota Malaysia to shift the perception that Vios is for ‘Uncles and Unties’ and now targeting the younger buyers.
Mercedes Benz was also perceived as an ‘Old Man’s car’ compared to it’s competitor, BMW. To change that perception, Mercedes is now actively participating in Motorsports such as DTM, F1, WEC series.
UMW. Go simple. Make 3 types of racing during a single event. First race is for teams like tuning workshops. 30 cars. Second race is for super teams. Those professional racing drivers and teams who can field 2 or more cars. Third race is only for individuals. Who has some money but not much left for a team or high tech modifications.. All in all… 100 cars. Consider this as corporate social responsibility and not a marketing strategy. Do that when the all new vios comes. 1.0 turbocharged, 6 airbags and VSC.
and suddenly all VIOS owners think they can ‘tapao’ Preve CFE…..
Sure or not .preve got turbo light pressure
Still, this vios ahbeng owner will shame when exora cfe tapau their car
no matter what and how the Vios being modified, the car still looks silly with the smallish wheel size compared to the car body.
I guess you simply cant change an Ah Beng car to sports car wannabe, no matter what…..