Naquib Azlan to Fly the Jalur Gemilang at Ferrari HP Esports Series Grand Final
Malaysia’s rising motorsport star Naquib Azlan is set for another stage in the global scene — this time, he’s trading the rumble of real engines for the razor-sharp precision of sim racing. The 25-year-old has qualified for the 2025 Ferrari HP Esports Series Grand Final, happening on 3 December at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
Naquib is one of only two Southeast Asian drivers to make the cut, emerging from a months-long competition that kicked off in June. The journey began with the Global Hot Laps phase, where thousands of hopefuls from around the world set their fastest lap times across three major sim platforms. From there, the best advanced to regional Qualifiers and Regional Finals — with only the elite earning a slot on the Grand Final grid.
This year’s showdown will put 15 top drivers from APAC, EMEA and the Americas through a multi-platform gauntlet featuring iRacing, Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione. Each round consists of a 10-minute qualifying session followed by a 30-minute sprint race, with competitors handling some of Ferrari’s most iconic machines — the Ferrari 488 EVO GT3, Ferrari 296 GT3 and the Le Mans-proven Ferrari 499P — around legendary Italian circuits.
The stakes? Huge. The overall champion of the 2025 Ferrari HP Esports Series will be evaluated for potential recruitment into the Scuderia Ferrari HP Esports Team.
Last year’s championship drew over 17,000 participants, with Briton Luke Whitehouse taking home the crown and later representing Ferrari in major international events.
Naquib arrives in Abu Dhabi carrying serious momentum from actual track racing too. Earlier this month, he clinched the GT4 class title in the Thailand Super Series. And just last weekend, he won the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86–BRZ Cup in Japan — strong form that adds confidence heading into the virtual arena.
“I’m truly honoured to represent Malaysia on such a prestigious global stage. Sim racing has always been a core part of my development as a driver, and to now compete in the Ferrari HP Esports Grand Final is an incredible opportunity. The level of competition will be incredibly high, but I believe in the preparation we’ve put in. I’m thankful for the support from the Malaysian esports community and our partners who made this journey possible,” said Naquib.
His campaign is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Rakan Muda, Esports Integrated under the Malaysia Esports Accelerator Program (MEAP), as well as Axle Sports.
CarTok Editor’s note: Real track or sim rig — Naquib’s on a roll. Let’s see if he can add a Ferrari-flavoured trophy to the collection.
