It’s been a splendid start for Malaysia’s 2018 motor racing world; it’s only March and we have a very capable team of endurance racers, plus Hafizh Syahrin has landed himself in a strong MotoGP team. Undoubtedly this development comes from rider/driver talent, but it also comes from a push-factor that works behind the scene: Sepang International Circuit.
The truth is that SIC has always been more than just a circuit owner; it is in fact in the business of developing talent. However, that task has always been somewhat dragged down by one factor: F1. The burden of hosting it all this while, together with possibly finding a Malaysian to land a race seat (after Alex Yoong) meant that every other racing discipline was nothing more than just peripheral vision.
The immediate post-F1 era for Sepang is already casting a brighter future for local motorsports. Earlier this evening, Sepang International Circuit CEO, Dato’ Razlan Razali laid out details of the SIC Talent Development initiative, and it is comprehensive. But first let’s look at the general idea of the strategy, and what’s in store for the four-wheel racing talents.
The clear objectives are three:
1. To identify, recruit and develop Malaysians to race in world-class series.
2. Aim to have drivers, riders, engineers, and mechanics working at all levels of motor racing.
3. To promote riders, drivers, engineers, and mechanics to be absorbed by automobile manufacturers (works team).
Following a successful partnering of Jazeman Jaafar, Weiron Tan, and Afiq Ikhwan Yazid in the last two rounds of 2017/2018 Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS), Razlan has confirmed that the trio will be taking part in the entire coming season of ALMS, and critically, the entire season of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Naturally, this also means that they will be the first all-Malaysian team of drivers to compete in the pinnacle of endurance racing. To make this happen, SIC has inked a deal to partner with the Jackie Chan DC Racing X Jota race team, competing in the LMP2 category.
Another local talent who’s part of the ALMS/WEC plan is Nabil Jeffri, who did exceptionally well driving for Eurasia Motorsports during the final leg of 2017/2018 ALMS at Sepang. The thing is, WEC regulation only permits a maximum of 3-driver car teams, thus its either one of them drive for a different X Jota car, or that person becomes a reserve driver for the ‘Malaysian’ race car. We reckon the latter is more likely, but hopefully all four gets a proper race seat. One thing for sure is that Jazeman has been appointed lead driver, as required by WEC regulation during registration.
There’s something in the touring car category too, where Mitchell Cheah has been chosen to participate in the 2018 TCR Asia Championship with Engstler Motorsport. Mitchell is the 2017 Malaysian Touring Production class champion in the Malaysia Championship Series.
SIC will also be selecting and providing support for 10 go-karters in the SIC X30 Karting Series, with the championship starting in April. From there, there is an opportunity for worthy talents to climb into an Asian Formula Renault or F4 (SEA or Europe) seat, or ultimately F3 series in Europe.
For two-wheels, we already know that Hafizh Syahrin, Zulfahmi Khairuddin, and Adam Norrodin is racing in the premiere class, Moto2, and Moto3 respectively. Having said that, another five have joined the SIC young talent stable, namely Muhammad Izam Ikmal, Muhammad Idil Fitri, Mohd Daniel Syahmi, Danial El Fahim, and Muhammad Harith Haziq. They are all between the ages of 13 to 16 years, whose talents were spotted following the Impian ke MotoGP programme initiated by SIC.
Muhammad Idil and Muhammad Izam were in fact on a plane to Europe mere hours after the press conference, where they will be taking part in the Spanish CEV Championship which starts at the Estoril Circuit, Portugal, on March 24. Apart from CEV, they will also race in the Asia Road Racing Championships (250cc category), and in the MSBK Championship.
The other three young racers will participate in the Malaysia Cub Prix (Wira Category) and MSBK. From there, a chance to race in the international stage is open, based on performance.
