38 drivers are all set to battle it out at the Sepang International Circuit this Saturday and Sunday

The first ever round of the Gazoo Racing Vios Sprint Cup will kick off during the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) this weekend (21-22 May 2022) at the Sepang International Circuit.

The event will see the running of two one-hour races on Saturday and Sunday, with two-driver teams competing in three generations of Vios vying for total prize monies amounting to RM60,000.

The Vios Sprint Cup is actually not part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival, as it is run independently and apart from the Vios Cup Challenge which we’re used to seeing.

Coming back to the sprint race, two rounds will be held within the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) with each round offering two races.

It retains the format of a one-make series as in the Vios Challenge – meaning everyone will be racing in an identical race-prepared Toyota Vios with stock standard engine, transmission, suspension, tyres and fuel ,to ensure a level playing field with emphasis on race craft, driving skills and experience.

Bringing together a star-studded line up of local racers consisting of professionals, international drivers, gentlemen drivers, young drivers and simulator stars, racers signed up to compete include experienced contenders such as Tengku Djan Ley, Mark Darwin, Mohd Fariqe Hairuman, Eddie Lew, Boy Wong, William Ho, as well as young sensations like Naquib Azlan, Hayden Haikal, Mika Hakimi, Nabil Azlan, Bradley Benedict Anthony, Timothy Yeo, and Alister Yoong.

To level the playing field even further, the race prohibits two experienced drivers to be paired together. 

For instance, Driving for Prima Pearl TD Racing will be represented by the experienced Tengku Djan and his teenager partner Mika Hakimi. 

That said, race 1 of the GR Vios Sprint Cup on Saturday will see both drivers driving in two separate qualifying sessions, with the faster driver required to start the one-hour race before making a mandatory pit stop for a driver change.

Meanwhile Race 2 on Sunday will start in reverse grid order based on the results of Race 1, where the slower drivers of race 1 will start the race in front. Both races will be a rolling-start format.

UMW Toyota Motor President Ravindran K said, “Unlike the Vios Challenge which is usually confined to approximately 30 minutes of racing, the Vios Sprint Cup is designed 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.”

In addition to the GR Vios Sprint Cup, Toyota will also be introducing the GR Vios Enduro Cup in conjunction with year end’s Sepang 1000Km Endurance Race.

The overall champion in each of the two races at the GR Vios Sprint Cup stands to win RM10,000 cash, followed by RM8,000 for the first runner up, RM6,000 to the third place winner, and RM4,000 and RM2,000 for the fourth and fifth place winners respectively.

In total, the Vios Sprint Cup offers prize monies amounting to RM60,000 per round. UMW Toyota Motor is also putting up an additional RM30,000 in prize monies for its Toyota dealer teams making the Vios Sprint Cup the second most lucrative racing event in Malaysia next to the Vios Challenge.

Those who wish to catch the race can either head to the Sepang International Circuit this weekend or tune in to the races that will be broadcasted live on UMW Toyota’s official website and Facebook page.