It’s all systems go for the first race of the inaugural Toyota Vios Challenge race series, as 24 motor racing novices have successfully graduated from the Vios Challenge Racing School. Now equipped with the necessary skills to handle the race-ready Vios, the graduates were also awarded a certificate of competency from Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Japan.
For the past few weeks, the graduates had to complete a compulsory introductory course where professional trainers ensured their students understood the fundamentals of racing. This includes various race and safety protocols, advanced car handling techniques and maintaining proper racing lines.
Among the graduates are several famous local celebrities – Danny Koo, Geraldine Gan, Venice Min, Shawn Lee, Diana Danielle, Shukri Yahaya, Fattah Amin and Janna Nick – who will race alongside other novice racers as well as more seasoned ones like Tengku Djan, Boy Wong, James Veerapan, Syafiq Ali, Mark Darwin and Akina Teo.
Not wanting to miss out on the action is Akio Takeyama, who is not only the current deputy chairman of UMW Toyota Motor, but also has more than 30 years of working experience in Toyota Motor Corporation. Takeyama will compete in the Promotional Category class alongside the aforementioned celebrities.
The Vios Challenge will feature three racing classes – Super Sporting Category, Sporting Category and Promotional Category – where participants with a successful racing record will be moved into the first elite class (Super Sporting Category).
Meanwhile, the Sporting Category class will include 17 racers and the remaining ten will be in the Promotional Category class. Regardless, each category will have two heats with points being awarded for top positions in each heat.
The 40 competition cars are specially prepared by Wing Hin Motorsports here in Malaysia, and is based on the Vios 1.5J MT. Among the modifications done 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.
There’s also the 15-inch Enkei rims shod with Toyo Proxes tyres (195/50), a Motec C125 racing display, a fire suppression system, OMP Corsica Superleggero steering wheel, OMP First-R racing seat and tow hooks (front and back). The 2NR-FE four-cylinder engine has also been tweaked to make 10% more compared to the regular car.
The first race of the Toyota Vios Challenge kicks off in Batu Kawan, Penang on August 12 and 13. The racers will compete on a specially-designed 1.65 km-long racing circuit, which has nine turns with the longest straight measuring about 156 meters in length.
The race will be the headlining event during the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival, which is open the members of the public for free. Aside from the action on track, attendees will also get to enjoy a myriad of activities including drift shows, celebrity performances, food trucks, test drives, and a special preview of the upcoming C-HR.
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oh gosh..soon many myvi vios TRD cornering like a ae86..
Pipu alredi seeing Saga & Myvi doin’ that, but end up in longkang^
Saga? Lol go and read, aussie review said its handling better than its own segment. Go to Indon you will see P1 taxis tarpau toyotas at coners gao gao. Go out from cave.
Gaji rm8143 monthly, why onli buy Saga..
Because taknak Vios
Ha3 tak nak vios jgn nyemak kat sini.
Maybe the saga mentioned is mitsu lancer orion…lol
Sudah2 la saga mitsu tu..ha3 xpower juga pecah enjin pun..
Same as honda city like type r when cornering-ring ha3
Pirah..ha3 harap handle sj wokey. R3 jalanan melambak- R3 race,rosak,repair
If R3 Proton Division saja wokey.power
R3 closed down
Now geele racing development GRD
Same as honda city cornering like the typo rrr..aum..miow..miow..ha3
Just make sure all racings are restricted to the track. Drive using your brain and not your emotion.
Yes 2018 Camry. Maybe the best Camry ever and, finally, a very very perfect family sedan, period.
waste of money
For fun la..ha3
Why waste time will all these races? they all need lots of money to set up. Better to use this money to reduce car prices from UMW. Silly Vios can be RM90k……no logic.
Where is our 30% car price reduction?
Meanwhile gomen keep building race tracks…no logic.
Bad assumption.
Price reduction comes from MITI and not individual companies.
Want 30% reduction make your vote count in GE14.
Who made the promise last GE ?
No use barking here in PT.
Seperti dijanjikan, harga kereta akan diturunkan secara berperingkat hingga 2017.
Harga turun pun blm tentu mau beli punya..ckp2 saja..ha3
It will be interesting to watch the newbies racing each other, and probably lots of spins and crashes too.
There will be a close race among the pros as well.
Overall, this is Toyota Malaysia’s strategy to re-brand their product to attract the younger generation. For so long they are losing the young buyer’s market to Honda, which is perceived as a more sporty and dynamic product as compared to Toyota’s conservative and boring image.
All the racer are celebrity… This is a PR show… Not really one for the public to participate in.
waste money game…
Toyota gonna put tons of stablizer bars , just how lousy the body rigidity, handling, braking, ……. Overall performance is! LOUSY CAR
Good, so ppl can go for a blower udget in racing with the usually sight of toyota vios. Shows the potential Put the test in the track.
Race car with rear drum brake