Chaos, Cash and Cornering: Toyota Vios Challenge Heats Up on Sepang’s South Track
If the phrase “technical, tactical and challenging” sounds like a job description for a mid-level corporate auditor, you clearly haven’t watched a pack of Vios race cars fighting for position on Petronas Sepang International Circuit’s South Track.
Round 4, Race 1 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Vios Challenge Season 8 marked the start of the final two races of the 2025 season, and Toyota’s decision to introduce a new circuit layout — alongside a RM300,000 total prize pool — proved to be an efficient way of amplifying pressure, mistakes, and championship nerves.
A New Track, Fewer Forgiveness Clauses
For the first time in series history, the field tackled the 2.609km Sepang South Track. Shorter, tighter and far less forgiving than the full Grand Prix Circuit, it places a premium on precision and consistency. As several title contenders quickly discovered, there’s very little margin for improvisation, or optimism, once things start to unravel.
Super Sporting: Ady Rahimy Keeps Control
In the Super Sporting Class, Laser Motor Racing’s Ady Rahimy looked intent on settling matters early. Starting from pole, he steadily pulled away from the field, opening up a commanding 5.4-second lead by lap 15.
A late safety car on lap 16 — deployed to recover Kenneth Koh’s stranded car — erased that advantage and set up a tense sprint to the finish. Despite the reset, Ady remained composed to secure the win, with William Ho finishing second and Amer Harris completing the podium.
Further back, championship heavyweights Freddie Ang and Mitchell Cheah finished fifth and seventh respectively, keeping the title fight very much unresolved heading into the final race.
Sporting Class: Experience Reasserts Itself
In the Sporting Class, former Rookie champion Adam Mikail (now with G-Mart Motorsport) delivered a timely reminder that experience still counts. He claimed victory ahead of Nick THZ, while Ng Khai EE was promoted to third following a post-race penalty for Taj Izrin Aiman.
It was a familiar motorsport lesson: the chequered flag doesn’t always end the drama — sometimes it just starts the paperwork.
Rookie Class: Four Drivers, One Equation
The Rookie Class continues to be the season’s most unpredictable storyline. Harkiesh Geeva took a crucial win in Race 1, reshuffling the order yet again. Rahul Dev and Aydan Khaliq followed in second and third, confirming that the championship is now a genuine four-way contest heading into the final race.
At this stage, the maths is tight, the margins are thin, and mistakes are expensive.
Vios Classic: Winning Isn’t Always Final
The inaugural Vios Classic endurance race — a one-hour contest featuring older-generation Vios race cars — delivered the weekend’s most dramatic twist. Thai pairing Surasak Dakeng and Varunchit Wattanathanakun crossed the line first, only to be classified fourth after a technical infringement.
That decision elevated Alister Yoong and Aman Nagdev of Axle Sports to victory, ahead of Lim Yoong Kit / Kenneth Koh and Loke Yin Yi / Kenny Lee. It was a timely reminder that endurance racing rewards not just speed, but preparation — and close reading of the regulations.
Race 1 Results
Super Sporting Class
- Ady Rahimy – Laser Motor Racing
- William Ho – Toyotsu Racing
- Amer Harris – KMS 333 Motorsports
Sporting Class
- Adam Mikail – G-Mart Motorsport
- Nick THZ – Motul by Awesome Racing Team
- Ng Khai EE – HLT Crestmax Motorsports
Rookie Class
- Harkiesh Geeva
- Rahul Dev
- Aydan Khaliq
Vios Classic (Top 3)
- Alister Yoong / Aman Nagdev – Axle Sports
- Lim Yoong Kit / Kenneth Koh
- Loke Yin Yi / Kenny Lee
Race 2 takes place tomorrow, and with championship titles still undecided and RM300,000 on the line, the South Track is unlikely to become any more forgiving. If anything, it’s just getting started.
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