First-ever GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup race is taking place this weekend!

KUALA LUMPUR: Last month, UMW Toyota Motor added two more races to the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner - the Vios Sprint Cup and Vios Enduro Cup. Thus bringing the total number of races to 11 (new additions include two races each). And now, the first-ever Gazoo racing Vios Sprint Cup race is all set to take place this weekend with 38 drivers.

UMW Toyota Motor President Ravindran K said, "Since UMW Toyota began committing itself to motor-racing in 2017, the objective has always been to see how we can contribute to not only the growth but to make Malaysian motorsports even more vibrant. The format of a one-make race has proven to be an incredibly successful formula, attracting not only professionals and experienced racers but also newcomers and young talent. The GR Vios Sprint Cup continues this tradition but by changing the dynamics of the race, continues to generate enormous interest and participation which we hope will help to create more excitement in Malaysian motorsports."

Highlights of the first-ever Gazoo Racing Vios Sprint Cup -

• The racing event will take place this weekend (21-22 May) and will include two races of 1-hour each
• Two-driver teams will be competing in three generations of Vios for prizes worth RM 60,000. The distribution for both the races will be -

Overall champion	RM 10,000
First runner up	RM 8,000
Third place winner	RM 6,000
Fourth place winner	RM 4,000
Fifth place winner	RM 2,000

• This race is run in addition to and independently of the Vios Challenge. However, it retains its one-make series format, meaning the drivers will compete in identical race-prepared Vios with the same powertrain, gearbox, suspension, tyre, and fuel
• The emphasis will be on the race craft and the driver's skill and experience

• The races include professional drivers, international drivers, gentlemen drivers, and young drivers, along with simulator stars
• Some of the experienced racers to participate in the event include - Tengku Djan Ley, Mark Darwin, Mohd Fariqe Hairuman Eddie Lew, Boy Wong, and William Ho, as well as young sensations the likes of Naquib Azlan, Hayden Haikal, Mika Hakimi, Nabil Azlan, Bradley Benedict Anthony, Timothy Yeo, and Alister Yoong
• Making sure the playing field is further even, no two professional racers are paired together; with every strong contender, there is an enthusiastic teen
• GR Vios Sprint Cup Race 1 will have two separate qualifying sessions for both the drivers; the faster driver will start the race before making a mandatory pit stop for a driver change
• GR Vios Sprint Cup Race 2 will begin as a reverse grid order based on Race 1 results. Here the slower driver will start the race and make the mandatory pit stop

Overall the Sprint Cup Race would be interesting to watch, in Ravindran K words, “Unlike the Vios Challenge which is usually confined to approximately 30 minutes of racing, the Vios Sprint Cup is designed to up the ante and to double the excitement on the track. Unlike a full-blown endurance race where racers pace themselves, this is a one-hour sprint to the finish which means the drivers will be going all out for the duration of 60 minutes from the very first corner in order to maintain an edge.”

As for the GR Vios Enduro Cup, it will be held in conjunction with the Sepang 1000km Endurance Race at the year-end.

Also Read: Next-gen Toyota Vios undergoes testing, debut later this year