Tun M to ride NiO EP9 in Asia GT Festival – see the 1,341 hp electric hypercar at Sepang this weekend

Tun M to ride NiO EP9 in Asia GT Festival – see the 1,341 hp electric hypercar at Sepang this weekend

It’s been announced that the NiO EP9, the all-wheel drive 1,341 hp electric hypercar and the holder of the EV lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a time of 6 minutes 45.9 seconds, will be making an appearance at the Asia GT Festival this weekend. It will be taking prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for a hot lap on the morning of March 17 before he flags off the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) Saga Cup race, which pays tribute to his brainchild from the 1980s, the evergreen Proton Saga.

“MSF is the race that the main media have never heard of before,” said Adian Yein, founder and principal of Malaysia Speed Festival. “That will change with the Asia GT Festival, where you will see how exciting this national racing series is, with over 210 cars participating and racing flat out door-to-door!”

It was also announced that Malaysian racing drivers Jazeman Jaafar and Dominic Ang will be among the driver line-up that will be racing in Round 1 of the China GT Championship that weekend in Sepang Circuit. Dominic is entering his third year in the China GT season, while Jazeman makes his debut driving with Frank Yu in the Bamboo Craft AMG GT, after a successful series of drives at in the Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07 LMP2 car at Le Mans, Spa and Suzuka in the World Endurance Championship last year.

Tun M to ride NiO EP9 in Asia GT Festival – see the 1,341 hp electric hypercar at Sepang this weekend

“I’m truly excited and honoured to be racing with one of Asia’s leading GT teams, Craft-Bamboo Racing. I’ll be partnering with team owner Frank Yu, who has a large amount of experience in sports car racing. I’m looking forward to meeting and gelling with the team and cross-referencing into each other’s working methods racing at this level, and I’m looking forward to my home race!” said Jazeman.

The China GT race will see a lineup of 35 GT cars racing round the Sepang International Circuit track. This grid will be the largest single-series GT lineup in Southeast Asia to date, and will feature famous racing carmakers such as Mercedes-AMG, Audi, Ferrari, Bentley, McLaren, Porsche, BMW and more.

Asia GT Festival will also be hosting the inaugural Celebrity Bazaar, which will be among the highlights visitors can look forward to during the race weekend. The Celebrity Bazaar will feature a series of pop-up stores and marketplace by local celebrities such as Joe Flizzow, Elly Raja Lawak, Linora Low, KTown Clan, and 47 others.

Tun M to ride NiO EP9 in Asia GT Festival – see the 1,341 hp electric hypercar at Sepang this weekend

“The Asia GT Festival offers unique lifestyle experiences for visitors of all ages to enjoy such as the Celebrity Bazaar,” said Matahari Lee, Executive Director of Country Heights Holdings Berhad, who is the co-organiser of this event. “The Celebrity Bazaar aims to provide a platform for local creators and artists to showcase their masterpieces for visitors to indulge.”

“We are excited to co-organise this one-stop marketplace where visitors can find exclusive items from our local artists and possibly for them to meet their idols too,” said Sara Nattaya, founder and president of Mbits Digital Sdn Bhd which is the joint organiser of the Celebrity Bazaar.

For music fans, there will be a mini concert by Malaysian renowned artist Joe Flizzow and seven members of the 16 Baris band at 6:30pm on March 17. Visitors planning to head over to Sepang International Circuit during race weekend can also expect fun family-friendly activities such as rock climbing, flying fox, food truck culinary experiences and more.

Tun M to ride NiO EP9 in Asia GT Festival – see the 1,341 hp electric hypercar at Sepang this weekend

This racing festival has something for everyone to experience and enjoy during the weekend, on top of fast cars and edge-of-your-seat wheel-to-wheel racing action.

You can catch all this action at the Asia GT Festival which will be held from March 15 to 17, 2019 at the Sepang International Circuit. Grandstand tickets start at RM20 and available online or at the gates, whilst access to the MSF paddock is RM35.

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Harvinder Sidhu

Harvinder Singh Sidhu thinks there's nothing better than Formula 1, not even sliced bread. Having written about cars since 2006, he plunged head first into the industry out of a passion for all things four-wheeled and everything in between. The F1 enthusiast has been following the sport since 1999 and has been keeping up with it since. In between races he keeps himself busy as the host of the Driven motoring show and as our version of the Joker.

 

Comments

  • Bankrupt 2050 on Mar 11, 2019 at 7:19 pm

    Is good if Malaysia can produce own EV cars

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • John Bin Copypaste on Mar 11, 2019 at 10:16 pm

      I think Proton is still sleeping on it

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
      • Veyron Owner on Mar 12, 2019 at 9:11 am

        Because they listened to commenters who kept complaining about expensive replacement batteries.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
      • YB Kunta Kinte on Mar 12, 2019 at 6:25 pm

        I am proud Tun M is our PM. At 93, he really works hard.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • Untung Manyak Wang on Mar 12, 2019 at 11:27 am

      About 3 Gravity Force, more than F16, can tahan or not?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • fadzili Rahman on Mar 12, 2019 at 11:33 am

      Malaysia can do it, if you recall in 2014 they showed their REEV Preve here on paultan. what happened to that car? why Proton never developed it and what happened to the guys who built it? if real experts are given the chance it can be done but not a bunch of useless wannabees and cronies who only think of using others to do this to get gov support. Lawyers, accountants, doctors and rest please stick to your own work and let the real people do this. government must cancel all the permits given to these people immediately and let real people come forward. I pity Malaysia as we used to be far ahead of all on EV since Tun had the vision on EV tech.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Tun Pirate King on Mar 11, 2019 at 7:39 pm

    So much free time to take joyrides instead of governing properly and stop his mates’ shenanigans that are causing our rapidly falling economy. Is this what we voted for?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 12
    • Tun like dat lah on Mar 11, 2019 at 11:01 pm

      Nampak 2 1,341 hp electric hypercar- fuiyoo so fast
      + Electric car tax

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Fahmi on Mar 11, 2019 at 8:10 pm

    This is good to know that this car is basically a repackage RIMAC concept 1. Built 100% in Europe for NIO capital in China which is in financial problems with government. Maybe they will try to sell it at billion dollars to Malaysia . Dump the rejected car here .

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • vVivi Zurianti on Mar 11, 2019 at 10:05 pm

    There are so many unresolved traffic related problems…..public user safety, traffic safety, traffic jam woes, pollution, license terbang, mat rempit, corruption in authorities, vehicle insurance scams, very poorly maintained infrastructure, heavy taxation of vehicles, etc…One BIG GIANT WHITE ELEPHANT in the room….

    And now everyone “sibuk” with the new EV in Malaysia. Adui…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • Jonn Dol on Mar 12, 2019 at 12:47 pm

      Fans would rather watch & hear the REAL GT/Sportscars racing one another rather than the EV/Electric thingy..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Johnny on Mar 11, 2019 at 10:13 pm

    That photo with all the old Protons racing hold the record for: Slowest race in Sepang ever.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
    • Not really on Mar 12, 2019 at 9:05 am

      That honour went to the Kancil racing series held there years ago.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Benard on Mar 12, 2019 at 9:09 am

      Fast does not automatically means fun.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Brian on Mar 12, 2019 at 11:49 am

      That is true. Vios one make race in Sepang would garner the title of fastest race ever. 1st corner, all the cars end up in the barriers. Race over within 10 seconds.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Mar 12, 2019 at 9:19 am

    slower than a mclaren senna based on the grand tour

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Musang on Mar 12, 2019 at 12:45 pm

    I like and will buy EV car if that car can perform 200bhp & above for my daily use car and could saving my pocket.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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