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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR), the high-performance arm of the Japanese carmaker, has finally revealed details of the manual transmission for the GR Supra. It is part of a number of updates for the model which is now in its third year of production.

2022 Toyota GR Supra

Available only for the 3-litre versions as well as a limited-run A91-MT Edition model, the manual transmission has been engineered and tuned specifically for use with the straight-six engine. The engineering team modified an existing transmission housing, driveshaft and gearset and removed elements that were not required, such as the acoustic package, which reduced weight.

2022 Toyota GR Supra

At the heart of the transmission is a newly engineered large diameter clutch with a reinforced diaphragm spring. The larger friction area and a stronger spring are deemed necessary for the GR Supra’s high-torque engine which generates up to 500 Nm in standard form. The newly developed 6-speed manual gearbox is described as an ‘intelligent Manual Transmission’ (iMT) and has software that prioritizes sporty performance when required.

With an automatic, it’s possible to use second gear when pulling away uphill when opposite wheels are on surfaces with different grip levels – eg when the car is parked on partly icy road, progress is smooth with no rolling back or wheelslip.

With a manual gearbox, first gear must be used and releasing the clutch brings a greater risk of wheelspin. To address the issue, the TGR engineers tuned the car’s TRAction Control (TRAC) system for smoother operation like that experienced with an automatic. The system is also optimized for the GR Supra’s characteristic high engine torque, wide tyres and rear-wheel drive.

2022 Toyota GR Supra

The car’s behaviour when accelerating out of a corner is a key element in the ‘Fun to Drive’ quality Toyota promises with the GR Supra. For the manual version, the traction control has again been the focus to ensure an ideal balance of agility and stability when exiting a corner on the throttle. TRAC intervention has been calibrated to maintain stability – so the car keeps faithfully to the driver’s intended line – while allowing the right amount of power for a sporty experience.

The ambition to make the GR Supra fun to drive in the most demanding scenarios inspired the introduction of a new Hairpin+ function. This is designed to allow experienced drivers more freedom and reward when taking tight bends on an uphill gradient (more than 5%) with a high-friction road surface. More ‘freewheel’ spin can make such routes more enjoyable to drive, so the engineers optimized engine torque control to allow a greater difference in the degree of wheelspin on the left and right-side tires.

2022 Toyota GR Supra

To counter the possibility of ‘snap-off’ oversteer – something that may be hard to control with the car’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) alone – an Anti-Roll Program has been included for both the manual and automatic versions. This intervenes at an earlier point with the VSC to cover any sudden loss of grip when the car’s high-response suspension setting it used.

In addition, the Track mode has been tuned to allow for easy drifting with freedom of throttle control. The vehicle remains agile, but there is less risk of spinning thanks to specific engine and torque control.

When upshifting, the parameters are tuned to optimize engine torque at the moment of clutch engagement and release; on downshifts, the software has been fine-tuned for consistent performance with rev-matching. The iMT is set as the default but, if the driver prefers, it can be switched off in Sport mode. To avoid a sluggish take-off and a low in-gear acceleration feel, the final drive ratio has been shortened, from 3.15 (in the GR Supra automatic) to 3.46 (in the GR Supra MT).

2022 Toyota GR Supra

The lever ratio was specifically set to minimize the effort required to make shifts and engage reverse gear. The weight and shape of the 200 gm gear knob, along with the quality of shift engagement, have all been precisely defined. Just as with the GR Yaris, close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the cockpit of the GR Supra.

Just as with the GR Yaris, close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the cockpit of the GR Supra. Ergonomics were studied thoroughly and the console unit and position of the drive mode selector were adjusted to provide a 43 mm clearance between the shift knob and the control panel. The spherical shift knob has also been shaped to allow a firm grip.

In addition to the new manual transmission, TGR has also further refined the steering and suspension with modified stabiliser bushings and retuned adaptive variable suspension (AVS) and other chassis control systems to improve handling performance and ride comfort.

2022 Toyota GR Supra

For certain versions, the 19-inch forged alloy wheels come with a new design of revised spoke and cross-sectional shapes and premium Titanium Dark Silver finish. They are said to have greater strength and are lighter, with a weight reduction of 1.2 kgs per wheel.

Customers also have three new exterior colours to choose from – Volcanic Ash Grey, Dawn Blue and Avalanche White – while the interior is now available with a tan trim option.

Toyota has not announced pricing for the additional manual version but exports from the factory in Japan will start later this year.

2022 Toyota GR Supra

To know more about the GR Supra or to purchase on in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my.

As ‘normalcy’ returns to our lives, motorsports activities are picking up and organisers are working hard on plans for events in coming months. UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has already prepared for this, having made the plans last year to have a broader range of events instead of just the Vios Challenge One-Make series that has been run since 2007.

Two additional races
In 2022, in addition to the Vios Challenge (which has completed two rounds), GAZOO Racing and UMWT will run the Vios Sprint Cup and Vios Enduro Cup. These will offer another 5 races this year to make it 11 races in total.

The Vios Sprint Cup is run independently of the Vios Challenge, and will feature 2 rounds within the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS), with each round having 2 races. The event will also retain the format of a one-make series as in the Vios Challenge, to ensure a level playing field where the emphasis will be on racecraft, driving skills and experience, not engine power.

Round 1 of the Vios Sprint Cup will be held on May 20 – 22 at the Sepang International Circuit, followed by Round 2 in July at the same venue. The season finale Vios Enduro Cup will coincide with prestigious Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race (S1K) in November.

2 drivers per car
A total of 26 cars will line up on the grid for the Vios Sprint Cup with each car consisting of two drivers. To make things interesting and to level the playing field even more, the pairing of drivers must be made up of the combination of professionals, amateurs, celebrities and rookies as per the Vios Challenge classes for Super Sporting (professionals), Sporting (amateurs), Promotional (celebrities) and Rookies (young and new drivers).

The race weekend will consist of two 1-hour races. Race 1 of the Vios Sprint Cup on Saturday will see both drivers driving in two separate qualifying sessions, and the faster driver required to start the 1-hour race before making a mandatory pitstop for a driver change.

In Race 2 on Sunday, the slower driver of the pair will start the 1-hour race and again required to make a mandatory pit stop for a driver change. Race 2 will also be started as a reverse grid order based on the results of Race 1.

RM10,000 for the champs
The overall champion in each of the two races stand 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.

The Vios Enduro Cup in November will see Toyota drivers competing over 1000 km in the race that is expected to take 9 hours covering 181 laps of the Sepang International Circuit.

“The objective is to expand on our existing racing activities in the Vios Challenge. With the Vios Sprint Cup and the Vios Enduro Cup, it will mean an additional 5 races on top of the 6 races already lined up for the Vios Challenge. This will provide even more racing and rewards for participating drivers, teams and dealers and at the same time underline UMW Toyota Motor’s commitment to contribute to a more vibrant motorsports eco-system in Malaysia,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.

Those who wish to register their participation or know more about the Vios Sprint Cup and Vios Enduro Cup can contact Janet, the Race Management representative from Wing Hin Motorsports at 016-367 3300. Other information on

For more information on GAZOO Racing activities and GR products in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia.

Toyota GAZOO Racing has done a lot of upgrades to the GR Supra since it returned in 2019. But the one thing which fans wanted that this Supra has not come with is a manual transmission. The shared development with BMW made it more convenient to use the same type of transmission – an 8-speed automatic – rather than separately engineer for a manual transmission. Although people may think that it’s a simple matter, everything involves time and cost and there must be a good business case too.

Toyota’s Executive Chief Engineer (involved in the high-performance products) Tetsuya Tada had explained that the automatic transmission for the GR Supra is an ‘excellent transmission’ and it also handles lots of torque well. So that’s helpful when it comes to tuners bumping up the output as they are less likely to destroy the transmission.

But he never ruled out the possibility of having a manual transmission too and now, three years down the road, the GR Supra will soon be available with a manual transmission. An official communication from Toyota Europe says that ‘all-new, tailor-made manual transmission is coming soon’. It ends with a hashtag #savethemanual which is probably a sentiment supported by Tada-san’s boss, the President of Toyota, Akio Toyoda.

All previous Supras have had manual gearboxes (besides automatics) with the last generation also having a Getrag unit in some markets.

Details of the transmission are not revealed, and the only images shown are the pedals. Toyota Europe also offers pictures of the three pedals in the GR 86 and GR Yaris, with the GR Supra having a throttle pedal that is floor-hinged whereas the other two cars have it top-hinged.

The last generation of the Supra had two types of manual transmissions – a 5-speed Aisin W58 unit and in some markets, a 6-speed V161 (Getrag 233) transmission. The Getrag unit was well known to be a robust unit and praised for its ability to handle very high outputs. If there were transmission failures, it was mainly due to missed shifts.

Throttle pedals in the GR 86 (above) and GR Yaris (below) are top-hinged whereas the one for the manual Supra will be bottom-hinged.

Perhaps Toyota GR will use this proven Getrag gearbox again. From the words ‘all-new’, it is likely that this is an independent development by the Toyota GR team and so they can choose their own hardware. Or it could also be the gearbox from the M3.

The current powertrain line-up has two BMW-sourced turbocharged engines – a 3-litre in-line six and 2-litre in-line four – and it is likely that the bigger, more powerful engine will get the manual shifter. Whether it will be a limited edition or an addition to the line-up is uncertain. Toyota GR has done some limited editions and one more hint about the new variant is that it will be identified by a new red-coloured ‘Supra’ badge.

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) had a significant jump of 32% in its March sales volume with 8,487 units reported, compared to 6,432 units the month before. The improvement in sales is attributed to promotions during the month which offered value-added benefits worth RM4,000 for popular models such as the Vios and Yaris.

Although conditions were challenging with the floods in Selangor causing some parts suppliers to temporarily stop operations, UMWT’s first quarter cumulative sales volume total of 22,447 units was 31% greater than for the same period in 2021 when 17,151 vehicles were sold.

The positive trend is expected to continue through the second quarter, with a boost expected when new and improved models make their appearance later in the year

Circumventing the global challenges on parts supply shortage, Ravindran K., President of UMW  Toyota Motor, said: “We are constantly reviewing and adapting to the changing circumstances and  uncertainties. Toyota has always been known for our proficiency in supply chain management and  risk mitigation measures. Leveraging on these experiences, we are working closely with our  suppliers and monitoring the developments closely to ensure minimal impact to our production  and our customers.”

“As Malaysia transitions towards the endemic phase, UMW Toyota Motor is appreciative of the  support we have received from our customers throughout these unprecedented times. We remain  committed towards achieving continuous growth for the Toyota brand as well as for the local  automotive industry through our cutting-edge innovative product and solution offerings. As we  transform towards sustainable mobility, Toyota aims to leave no one behind as we continue to be  at the forefront in offering value for money innovations equipped with technological  advancements and state-of-the-art safety features across all our products,” he added.

Promotions for Hari Raya festive season
Until May 1, 2022, UMWT will be running the ‘Pandu Uji dan Menang Duit Raya’ contest at showrooms nationwide. During this period, those who test drive any Toyota model could collect ‘duit raya’. Each test drive will entitle the customer to a contest entry to win ‘duit  raya’ worth RM100. Those who take the test drive and complete a vehicle purchase can win RM200  ‘duit raya’. A total of 30 winners will be selected every week.

In addition, all Toyota showrooms will continue their ‘Bersama Lebih Bermakna’ celebrations with the Ramadan Weekender on April 16 and 17. Customers can visit the showrooms to find out more about ‘Bulan Puasa’ deals and value-added offers as well as receive exclusive gifts (while stocks last) when they test drive any of the Toyota vehicles available.

New 3S centre in Cyberjaya
Toyota owners in Cyberjaya now have an authorised service centre close to them. Operated by Otomobil Sejahtera Sdn Bhd, the new facility is a 3S centre offering sales, service and spare parts as well as Body and Paint services for repairs or repainting vehicles.

“From the point of purchase, to aftersales service, and on to their next repurchase, it is important that customers feel the Toyota touch at every step. This new 3S service centre is just our way of bringing our brand closer to our customers, wherever they may be, while ensuring they have seamless access to our services whenever they need them,” Mr. Ravindran said.

For more information about Toyota vehicles or to locate an authorised dealership in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my.

With the success story of the GR Yaris, it’s not surprising that Toyota has now followed up with another model and this time, it’s not on a limited production run. It’s the GR Corolla that has long been rumoured and it’s a full-fledged GR model developed from scratch rather than adapted from existing models. As with other GR models, which started with the Supra, the GR Corolla has been developed with a strong focus on high performance that will make it competitive for motorsport.

And with the company president, Akio Toyoda, being passionate about racing and being a racing driver himself, the engineers must have had a lot of encouragement and perhaps even given a bit of freedom in the budget. Naturally, the boss himself got involved in development and ensured that the final product would be as impressive as the GR Yaris.

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

2020 Toyota GR Yaris
GR Yaris

100 bhp per cylinder
Under the bonnet is the familiar G16E-GTS turbocharged, direct/port injected 3-cylinder engine, first seen in the GR Yaris. For GR Corolla, the output from the 1681 cc engine is boosted to 300 bhp/307 Nm, which equates to an impressive 100 bhp per cylinder. The boost in power is partly due to using a 3-piece muffler which reduces exhaust pressure (and outside noise), which are essential to backpressure performance.

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

As would be expected, the compact and lightweight G16E benefits has technologies from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s long and broad racing experience – and successful too. Features include multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves and a part-machined intake port. Combustion is fed by Toyota’s D-4S direct and port fuel injection system, which operates at high pressure for maximum fuel dispersion and efficiency.

The 12-valve engine uses a single-scroll ball-bearing turbocharger integrated in the exhaust manifold, reducing weight, while control of wastegate bypass gases is used to improve the catalyst’s warm-up efficiency.

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

Delighting drivers is the provision of a 6-speed manual transmission – and only a manual transmission. ‘Morizo’ (Toyota President Akio Toyoda’s racing name) probably approved and encouraged that, being a racing driver himself. It’s called an Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) though it is not explained what the ‘intelligent part is, although Toyota says the rev-matching is engineered to accommodate high torque levels.

Toyota has long experience with high-performance 4-wheel drive since its days with the Supra GT-Four and with experience gained in WRC participation, it has advanced its all-wheel drive technologies. These technologies are used in the GR Corolla’s GR-Four All-Wheel-Drive system which was originally developed for rallying. The system gives drivers a choice of 60:40, 50:50 or 30:70 power distribution to the front and rear wheels with the twist of a dial.

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

The GR Corolla Circuit Edition (limited production run) is also equipped with front and rear Torsen Limited-Slip Differentials, for further enhancement of cornering performance and grip. Left and right-hand drive torque distribution are more effectively controlled on the front and rear axles.

 Wide and rigid for superior dynamics
To fully use all the power (and also to be worthy of the GR badge), the GR Corolla has a specially constructed bodyshell that is highly rigid. Based off the GA-C platform with Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA), its increased rigidity comes from significantly more weld points in the frame, particularly to strengthen joints. Further gains are made through extensive use of structural adhesive, increasing the joint rigidity between component parts.

The front suspension is a straightforward MacPherson-type strut with circuit-tuned coil springs, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars, For the rear suspension, there is a double-wishbone type multilink system that accommodates the AWD system’s goal of maximum agility and stability.

Wide tyres are installed for maximum cornering grip and high speed stability. Standard rubber provided from the factory are Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres sized 235/40R18 on 18-inch gloss-black 15-spoke cast alloy wheels.

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

Braking power comes from opposed, fixed-caliper disc brakes with 14 x 1.1-inch ventilated and slotted rotors clamped by 4-piston aluminium calipers. At the rear are 11.7-inch x 0.7-in. ventilated rotors with 2-piston aluminium fixed-caliper disc brakes.

Light and aerodynamic
Like the GR Yaris, there has been a focus on saving weight to maximize the performance potential, without compromising strength and safety, of course. This rigorous approach is particularly evident in the car’s construction, with extensive use of lightweight metals and materials used in key areas. Aluminium is used for the bonnet and front door panels, with light and strong high-tensile steel in critical areas to ensure the car’s structure can safely absorb and dissipate impact forces.

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

On the Circuit Edition, the roof is made of a forged (rather than woven) carbonfibre sheet molding compound. This lightweight, highly rigid material cuts weight and helps lower the car’s centre of gravity. The lower centre of gravity, which benefits stability and handling, is also a feature of the TNGA platform.

Aerodynamics are also vital for performance and it’s not just on the circuit but also in rallies as the speeds are also very high (not to mention literally flying through the air). From competition experience, the engineers have designed the GR Corolla with optimum aerodynamic efficiency.  As with rally cars, the shaping of the front and rear canards and lower rockers efficiently channel airflow down the sides of the car. Bonnet, fender and rear bumper ducts and a flat underfloor reduce drag, add downforce and improve stability. Wind flow is directed onto the rear spoiler to generate extra downforce.

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

The exterior design of the GR Corolla follows that of the GR Yaris with its wide stance and hatchback form. The Core Grade’s aluminium bonnet is matched with a colour-keyed roof and matching shark-fin antenna, while the Circuit Edition features a bonnet bulge with functional gloss-black air ducts.

At the rear, a lower bumper cover with functional air vents. The wide track and flaring of the rear wings emphasize the car’s wide and low silhouette, with a spoiler on the roof to control airflow as it departs from the roof.

Race-inspired interior
The GR Corolla’s interior is very functional, thanks to feedback from professional drivers who obviously wanted a true driver’s cockpit. Facing the driver is a GR Full TFT meter with a 12.3-inch colour Multi-Information Display that has a GR meter with 4WD mode, turbo pressure, gear position indicator and tachometer.

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

The shift lever has a shortened stroke for a quick throw between gears. The subject of much testing, it is positioned where the driver’s arm is naturally lowered from steering. The action is light with short shift strokes. A pull-type mechanical parking brake is still used, something which is slowly disappearing as electric parking brakes replace the simple mechanical system. Incidentally, for the Circuit Edition, the shifter knob has an exclusive ’Morizo’ signature.

The GR Factory
The GR Corolla is built at the Motomachi plant in Japan, where as the Lexus LFA and Supra A80 have been built. It has a dedicated GR production line which has also produce the GR Yaris. Instead of the traditional conveyor system, the body and assembly lines comprise several different cells connected by automatic guided vehicles  rather than the conveyors featured in conventional car plants. This fully flexible method of working, with many manual assembly techniques, enables precise body and suspension alignment, with variations in vehicle dimensions and weight kept to a minimum.

While the assembly of each GR Corolla takes longer than a conventional mass-produced car, the production line has been streamlined for performance, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has brought together highly skilled technicians from throughout the company to work on the new model. This team not only assembles the GR Corolla but also contributes to the technical skills of workers at other Toyota facilities.

The pricing has not been announced though whatever price it has, there will undoubtedly be no shortage of buyers. While the GR Yaris was a limited run, the GR Corolla will be produced in larger numbers as it will also be sold in North America (which did not get the GR Yaris).

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

It was another hot and sunny day as Day 2 of the first round of the Vios Challenge one-make series started today. Throughout the afternoon, there were close and hard-fought battles around the Sepang International Circuit, an element that has traditionally defined the racing action in the series. Clearly, the drivers in all 4 classes have warmed up with the start of Season 5 of the popular series that is part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival). As in every round in the past, the battles were intense from start to finish, with incidents and body contact that showed the determination of the participants, young and old, experienced and rookie.

“The one-make format of the Vios Challenge, the increasing number of younger drivers, and the emphasis we have placed on the GAZOO Racing Young Driver Development Program has certainly been able to make a significant impact on the track. It levels the competition between the younger and more experienced drivers, rewards skill and racecraft, and promotes an even higher quality of racing on the track,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.

Super Sporting Class
In the Super Sporting Class for veteran and professional drivers, Eddie Lew got off to an incredible start from 4th position on the grid and kept his lead in the 20-lap race from start to finish. The battle for second and third was super intense with no less than 5 drivers in contention. The duels between the drivers allowed Lew to speed ahead to extend his lead from 3 to as much as much as 10 seconds at one stage in the race.

The Laser Motor Racing driver, who has been racing since the 1990s, eventually took the chequered flag with a comfortable 5.58-second gap ahead of his nearest rival. The battle for second and third positions saw Race 1’s winner and Axle Motorsports driver Hayden Haikal, team mate Boy Wong, M7 Japan Project Team’s Fariqe Hairuman and Amer Harris, as well as 23 Motors’ Ady Rahimy and Distinctive Model’s Clement Yeo trading places lap after lap before contact on the track put all of them out of contention for a podium finish.

Their misfortunes promoted Prima Pearl TD Racing Team’s Mitchell Cheah to second and Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang to third until the finish. It was also Ang’s second podium finish after completing yesterday’s Race 1 in second place.

“I got a very good start and pulled away. I just maintained a good pace at the front but I took notice of Cheah catching up,” said Lew, 48, who rounded off the weekend with a race win in Race 2 and a third place finish in Race 1. “Luck was certainly on my side today. Both Cheah and Ang are, in fact,  very fast drivers.”

Rookie Class
In the Rookie Class for the second batch of drivers who have undergone the GR Young Talent Development Program, 18-year-old Sharique Zulqarinain rounded up his racing weekend with a double podium finish, with victory in Race 2 and a second place in Saturday’s Race 1. Finishing second was 20-year-old Muizz Musyaffa. Securing third in both Race 2 and 1 was Muhammad Hamdany Abdul Hamid.

“I had a really bad start in Race 2 and I was honestly not filled with hope but throughout the race, I remembered what my mechanics and Dad had told me which was to just keep a cool head and have fun. I was just trying to set a consistent time on every lap and in the process, I began overtaking the other competitors. From then on, it was just a job of maintaining my pace,” said Sharique.

Sporting Class
The Sporting Class, which also has experienced and skilled drivers, also produced a fair share of drama on the track but at the end of the 20-lap race, it was Crestmax Motorsports Bradley Benedict Anthony who was declared the official winner, with Panglima City Racing Team’s Kenneth Koh and 23 Motors’ Abdul Miqail in second and third places, respectively.

Actually, Race 1’s winner, Naquib Azlan of Axle Motorsports, had been first to cross the finish line but his hopes of a double race victory weekend were shattered when he was later handed a 30-second penalty, effectively dropping him to seventh position overall.

“I started from fourth position and paced myself with the incidents that occurred in front allowing me to take advantage of the situation. My main goal in every race has been to collect as much valuable points as I can with the overall championship in my sights,” said Bradley who had a third place finish in Race 1.

Promotional Class
The battle of the celebrities in the Promotional Class, always a popular race, saw actor Shukri Yahaya clinching victory, which was also his second visit to the podium following Race 1’s second placing. Fellow actor Zizan Razak however, was determined to pass him after having fought his way up from last place to finish second in the 18-lap race. Presenter Nabil Ahmad rounded up the top three podium finishers.

Starting from sixth on the grid, Zizan endured the misfortune of being spun around on the opening lap which dropped him to last place. His pace on the track, however, was visibly quicker as he made quick passes to move forward.

“I take racing very seriously. It’s something that has interested me since I was very young. As my entertainment career progressed, it slowly allowed me to begin venturing into tracks days, taking up karting and even to the extent of competitively racing karts. It came to a point that I realized that one of my weaknesses was the limited time I had driving on the track and that was when I eventually invested in a simulator to practice,” said Zizan.

“This enabled me to improve on my braking and racing lines, and I have been able to effectively apply all that I have learnt in the Vios Challenge. And when we have practice sessions conducted by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia to prepare for the series, I do my best to spend an entire day of driving to make sure I can achieve the lap times I am targeting for,” he added.

The next round of the Vios Challenge is scheduled for June and UMW Toyota Motor hopes that, by then, the pandemic will have diminished so that it will once again be possible to safely invite the public to watch from the stands. For the past two seasons, the event has been held without spectators being invited and has been streamed live during the race weekends.

When a father has a passion for a sport, it often gets picked up by his children too and as they grow up, they learn the skills from him and can one day also become stars. In many cases, it’s often the boys who get the father’s encouragement and support but in Eddie Lew’s case, it’s his daughter and clearly, he believes that the sport is not restricted to just males.

So at this weekend’s Season 5 opening round of the Vios Challenge one-make race series (part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival) at the Sepang International Circuit, we have the presence of a father and daughter in the racing. It is probably the first such pair in Malaysian motorsports and while they are not racing directly against each other (in the same class) or even on the same team, perhaps one day that might happen.

Exposed to racing since 3 years old
Eddie’s daughter is Adele, 20, who’s been tagging along with him and his friends to races since she was 3 years old. “He used to compete a lot at the then Pasir Gudang Circuit (Johor Circuit), and I’ve been following him to all his races ever since, from the Malaysia Championship Series and the MSF Series to the Sepang 1000km Endurance Race,” Adele said, revealing that she started driving fun karts only last year and just managed to do it for a month before the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force.

She is currently an undergraduate at one of the private institutions of higher learning in Kuala Lumpur and her father resides in Johor. So Adele’s training sessions have since gone online with the two spending hours communicating. “Believe me, our calls can last for hours with super long conversations on racing!” she revealed.

“When we’re together, he makes me drive a manual transmission car and we spend time on the racing simulator where he teaches me to become familiar with the many racing lines and braking points,” added Adele.

GR Young Talent Development Program
While her father, an accomplished racing veteran with a history that dates back to the early 90s, inspires her, Adele has also been given an opportunity to develop her racing skills through the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia/GR Young Talent Development Program. She is among the six young Malaysians who make up the second batch of the program. Candidates selected are between the ages of 16 and 20 who are keen to transition from karting and simulator racing to real-world  saloon car racing. It is part of UMW Toyota Motor’s initiative to provide young drivers with a platform to climb the motorsports ladder, and to bring new blood into the sport.

The GR Young Talent Development Program provides intensive training just like what professional racing drivers go through. Simulator time is an important activity and top Malaysian drivers provide valuable guidance.

Adele and the other 5 rookies have undergone systematic training which covers core aspects of becoming a professional driver. From top drivers like Alex Yoong, Tengku Djan Ley and Mark Darwin, they learn racecraft and how to prepare themselves in fitness, nutrition and even psychologically. It is quite an intensive program and when they have graduated, they are given opportunities to race in the Vios Challenge and other events, as Adele will be doing this year.

“Compared to the others, I am a real beginner with limited experience and that means I have to put in twice the effort. We’ll see how things go as the season progresses, but I’d really like to get on to the podium and make my Dad proud. From several sessions on the track with the Vios racing car and being guided by several different coaches – some of whom were last year’s Rookie Class racers – I’ve learnt a lot especially in mentally preparing myself. And the car is also very easy to drive,” she said.

Not racing directly against Dad – yet
Technically, Adele will be competing in the Rookie Class (for the graduates of the program) while her father is in the Super Sporting Class for veteran and professional drivers. However, father and daughter will be in the same race as the two classes run together. So who knows – Dad might just see his daughter’s car appearing in his mirrors one day!

“This is a very special moment for the both of us. In order for me to be able to race my father shows just how long he has been in motorsport. This is going to be a whole new experience for the two of us and my dad is equally very excited. He is definitely the best mentor I could have ever hoped for to prepare for my first ever race weekend,” said Adele.

Racing fans and enthusiasts have been able to catch the weekend’s action and stage performances by local celebrities streamed live on the UMW Toyota Motor website at www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages

Season 5 of the Vios Challenge, the one-make series that is part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival), got off to a hot and exciting start with the younger drivers firing an early warning salvo by dominating the top two classes – the Super Sporting Class and Sporting Class.

In the Super Sporting Class for veteran and professional drivers, 17-year old Hayden Haikal catapulted  himself from being fastest in qualifying to winning the race while, in the Sporting Class for amateurs, 22-year old Naquib Azlan shot to victory in only his second year of competitive racing  after making a transition from simulator racing.

Incidentally, Naquib’s younger brother, 20-year old Nabil, who is  also making his debut in the Rookie Class (competing in a real saloon car race for the very first time) also won his class for new drivers under GAZOO Racing’s Young Driver Development Program.

Super Sporting Class
In the Super Sporting Class, Hayden won a closely-fought race, finishing just half a second ahead of  Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang with Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Liew coming in third. The teenager had led an Axle Motorsports 1-2 in the opening lap of the race with team mate and  senior driver Boy Wong in tow before being passed in the second lap by both Wong and Prima Pearl Auto’s Mitchell Cheah to drop into third place.

Toyota Vios Challenge Season 5 2022

Toyota Vios Challenge Season 5 2022

The battle that ensued at the front between Wong and Cheah, however, got the better of the two  drivers who took one another out of contention in Lap 6 after a miscalculated overtaking manoeuvre. That allowed Hayden to regain the lead, with Ang and Liew also becoming the beneficiaries of the misfortunes up front. The race was tight between Hayden and Ang right to the chequered flag, with both drivers trying their best to get to it first.

Sporting Class
In the Sporting Class, Naquib won his class with a comfortable 15-second margin ahead of S&D  Tama Motorsports’ Tom Goh, while another youngster 19–year old Bradley Benedict Anthony of  Crestmax Motorsport followed them home in third place. Moving up to the Sporting Class after winning last year’s Rookie Class, Naquib had clocked the fastest time in qualifying but both he and Bradley were penalized for a technical infringement which dropped them to fifth and sixth on the starting grid. That however, proved not to  be a big enough setback as they were able to make their way up the leaderboard.

Toyota Vios Challenge Season 5 2022

“I was certainly looking forward to come back to race this season. I really enjoyed racing last year in the Rookie Class  and I am now looking forward to competing against much more experienced drivers. Thankfully, Axle Motorsports decided to field a team this season and to move from virtual racing into the real world. Therefore I am very thankful to them for this opportunity and I want to make  the most of it,” said Naquib.

On why he feels younger drivers in the series are beginning to propel themselves to the front of  the field, he said: “We, the younger generation of drivers, are very lucky and fortunate that we have  facilities that the senior or veteran drivers did not have back in their days. In my view, they had to  work much harder to get to where they are now. We have the benefit of things like simulator racing because it helps us to prepare better and to accelerate our learning curve. We also have the benefit of having guidance from these more experienced drivers in the sport because they have spent many more years on track.

“To be honest, I never expected anything making the transition from simulator to real world racing.  I do have a lot of self-belief and self-confidence, but I never knew I could do it until I got onto the  track last season,”  he added.

Toyota Vios Challenge Season 5 2022

That sentiment is shared by Bradley adding that investing in training has been one of the  important elements of his growth. “Being young, I am very passionate about racing and I would like to believe that we young drivers put in the extra time and effort into practice and training. For instance, my preparation for Season 5 involved a lot of training to prepare myself physically and mentally before coming to the track’” he said.

“My goal when I first joined the series was to finish the race or to get into the top 10. I did not set  high expectations because it was my first time racing a saloon car, but the learning curve has just  been phenomenal and really valuable,” added Bradley.Rookie Class

Rookie Class
In the Rookie Class, Nabil drove to his first ever saloon car race victory after making a transition  from simulator racing. Finishing second and third were karters Sharique Zulqarinain and  Muhammad Hamdany Abdul Hamid, respectively. Finishing fourth was 20-year old and the only  female in the group, Adele Liew, while in fifth was another karter Muizz Musyaffa.

“I’m surprised how a lot of the things I’ve done in simulator racing can be applied to real world  racing and I was very happy with my racecraft in this first race. I wanted to pace myself and try to  get as close as I could to the other drivers in the Super Sporting Class (both the Super Sporting and  Rookie Classes start together) but just enough to steer clear of any incidents,” said Nabil. “The most difficult part with real racing is dealing with the high temperature in car and this is something I will need to focus more on moving forward.”

Promotional Class
In the popular Promotional Class for celebrities, actor Zizan Razak did not leave anything to chance this year as he shot off from pole position to finish more than 15 seconds clear of defending Promotional Class champion and fellow actor, Shukri Yahaya. In third place was presenter Ahirine Ahirudin who is also an accomplished motorcycle rider.

Toyota Vios Challenge Season 5 2022

Toyota Vios Challenge Season 5 2022

Toyota Vios Challenge Season 5 2022

Singer Nabila Razali had been in contention for fourth place until a mistake sent her into the gravel  at the very last lap. That promoted presenter/comedian Nabil Ahmad into fourth, with singer Wany  Hasrita, actress Janna Nick, presenter Ain Edruce in fifth, sixth and seventh positions, respectively.

Today’s racing is just half of the first round of Season 5 and the second series of races will run tomorrow (Sunday, March 20) at the Sepang International  Circuit. Racing fans and enthusiasts can catch all the action and stage performances by local celebrities streamed live on the UMW Toyota Motor website at www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages..

This weekend, besides the start of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship, there will also be the start of the Vios Challenge one-make series in Malaysia, going into Season 5 in 2022. Now a firmly established event on the country’s motorsports calendar, the event, which originated as part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival), is the most lucrative motorsports event in the country. In total, more than a half a million ringgit in prize money is offered by organisers UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO Racing Malaysia, with RM70,000 and RM50,000 to the overall champions of the Super Sporting and Sporting Classes, respectively.

“The Vios Challenge and TGR Festival continue to evolve in line with our aspirations to contribute to the development of Malaysian motorsports. From a series that attracts professionals, gentlemen drivers and local celebrities, it has today grown into one of the most ideal, accessible and affordable platforms to hone the skills and experience of young drivers coming up the ranks in motorsports. And this year, we want enthusiasts and fans to become even more invested in the series by introducing a fantasy game that will enable them to better relate to their favourite drivers on the track,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.

The first round will be held at the Sepang International Circuit using the North Track which is 2.706 kms per laps and has  5 straights with 9 turns.

“The Vios Challenge, in more ways than one, is growing into what we would like to call ‘the people’s race’ and, in 4 seasons, we have kept to this objective by not only promoting motorsports to the masses both on ground and online, but maintaining a one-make race format that makes the event attractive to all levels of racers,” he added.

3 rounds, 6 races up till September
Season 5 will have 3 rounds with a total of 6 races. After the first round at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend, Rounds 2 and 3 will be held in June and September, respectively. Over the past 4 seasons, the event has attracted more than 8 million spectators and online viewers, garnering a social media reach exceeding 19 million, making it one of the most viewed domestic motor-racing events.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and the need for safety of everyone, spectators will not be able to watch from the stands. As in previous years, the races will be streamed live throughout the two days so wherever you are, you will still be able to catch the action.

There are 4 classes as before: the popular Promotional Class; the Super Sporting Class; the Sporting Class; and the Rookie Class. For the Promotional Class, there will be 9 personalities competing against each other. Returning to defend his title is Season 4 champion and actor Shukri Yahaya; last year’s runner-up and actor Zizan Razak; television host Nabil Ahmad; actress Janna Nick; singers Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar; TV personality Ahirine Ahiruddin; and actress and presenter Ain Edruce who is making her return to the Vios Challenge from a break last year after welcoming her first child.

Ain Edruce took part in the Promotional Races during Season 3 in 2019/2020 but was absent after that. The 28-year old actress and presenter returns after having given birth to her first child and is ready for the challenge in Season 5.
Reigning and triple-crowned Super Sporting Class champion Tengku Djan Ley will be looking to add another crown to his Vios Challenge collection.

Veterans to duel again
The Super Sporting Class will see an epic battle with a field of former champions, veteran drivers, talented young drivers and several former internationals. Reigning and triple-crowned Super Sporting Class champion Tengku Djan Ley returns with the Prima Pearl Auto team this season but instead of a solo entry, he will be partnering international touring car Mitchell Cheah in a 2-car assault for the team.

Also fielding two-car teams are Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin who will be alongside veteran racer Eddie Liew; and M7 Japan Project Team who will take to the grid with international touring and GT car driver Mohamed Fariqe Hairuman and young gun Amer Harris who moves up the ladder after graduating from the very first Vios Challenge Rookie Class last season.

Amer joins two other young drivers who are under the age of 20 competing in the Super Sporting Class. They are teenage prodigy and former Sporting Class champion Hayden Haikal and international single-seater driver Alister Yoong who is also the son of ex-F1 driver Alex Yoong. Both will drive for the Axle Motorsports team which was established by Alex. Driving a third entry for Axle Motorsports will be former Super Sporting Class champion Boy Wong.

“The TGR Festival and the Vios Challenge is by far the best platform for racing in Malaysia at the moment. It is professionally run, the cars are great and why wouldn’t we want to seize the opportunity to be part of it,” said Alex. “Boy is one of the most underrated senior drivers in the country. He is, and has been very quick throughout his racing career. In the academy that I run, we have brought in close to 1,500 new young drivers into the sports via our simulator competition and races but only tens have successfully made the transition to driving real race cars. This,  however, doesn’t mean we are going to ignore senior drivers. I hope to see Boy Wong, Naquib, Hayden and Alister being very competitive this season.”

Although she is not the first female to race in the Vios Challenge, Shasha Shafie will be the first woman to compete in a category outside of the Promotional Class. As with every participant, her Vios will have to meet strict regulations for the one-make race where the performance of every car is virtually identical and it will be driver skill that makes the difference.

In the Sporting Class – one of the most fiercely contested with a field of 20 drivers – there will also be a female among the drivers on the starting grid. She is R&R Sport Speed Garage’s Shasha Shafie, one of three new drivers to the class who also include Super Evergreen Motorsports’ Muhamad Roni Risman and 23 Motors’ Abdul Miqail.

Two racing families
The Rookie Class will see a fresh group of newcomers who have received training to develop their skills. The 6 new faces are Adele Liew, Ashen Shanmuganathan, Muhammad Hamdany Abdul Hamid; Nabil Azlan, Sharique Zulqarnain; and Muizz Musyaffa. The parents of Adele and Ashen, Eddie Liew and Shanmuganathan Arumugan, are also taking part in the Super Sporting and Sporting Classes, respectively, while Nabil is the brother of last year’s Rookie Class champion, Naquib Azlan. Like his brother, he has developed skills through sim racing and now get to use them in real-world racing.

Adele Lew and Ashen Shanmuganathan, both newcomers to the Vios Challenge, have been inspired by their fathers who will also be racing in other categories.

“This is a very special moment for the both of us,” said Adele, 20, who has had limited experience in fun karts. “In order for me to be able to race with my father means that he has been in motorsports for a very long time. And to my knowledge, there has never been a father-daughter racing in the same event and on the same weekend in Malaysia! This is going to be a whole new experience for the both of us and my father is equally very excited. He is definitely the best mentor I could have ever hoped for to prepare me for my first race weekend.

GAZOO Racing Dream Team TGR Fantasy
While the event remains closed to the public as a safeguard against the pandemic, the action will be live streamed during each day. This year, a new feature that gives the public a chance to be more involved is the GAZOO Racing Dream Team TGR Fantasy. This is a racing platform where players sign up and compete against each other by creating their very own TGR Dream Team of racers they think will perform best throughout the season. Participants will have to select 3 drivers from each of the 4 classes of racing, and their team will accumulate or lose points based on the real racing results throughout the 3 rounds in Season 5. The player with the most number of points will be declared the winner at the end of each round and prizes will be given out at the end of the season.

Racing fans and enthusiasts can catch the weekend’s action and stage performances by local celebrities streamed live on the UMW Toyota Motor website at www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.

UMW Toyota Motor continues to post strong sales with the month of February having seen deliveries of 6,366 Toyota vehicles and 66 Lexus vehicles for a total of 6,432 units. As in January, the number was higher than for the same month in 2021, with a jump of 27% in total sales volume.

The company is optimistic about its 2022 performance being able to keep it in the top position of the non-national sector. It has already launched an updated Camry model which has a new engine and is counting on its hybrid electric vehicle technology in the Corolla Cross Hybrid to gain greater popularity among Malaysians.

Latest Camry 2.5V with the new Dynamic Force engine (above) and the hybrid powertrain in the Corolla Cross Hybrid (below).

For the month of March, there’s a special promotion for the Yaris and Vios models (E & G variants) which has value-added benefits worth RM4,000. Additionally, with all models (except the Hilux), there are still savings on sales tax which is expected until June 30, 2022. As both the Yaris and Vios are assembled locally, the exemption is 100% and the savings amount to more than RM2,000.

Besides new models planned for launch in later months, the company also continues to develop and grow its sales and aftersales network. Recently, it opened a new 2S outlet with Body & Paint services in Skudai, Johor to serve the growing number of customers in the southern state. The outlet is operated in partnership with Super Evergreen (Nusajaya) Sdn Bhd and joins UMW Toyota Motor’s extensive network of authorised facilities around the country.

A new Toyota dealership has opened in Johor to provide Body & Paint aftersales services, including accident repairs and painting.

“We truly appreciate the support our customers have given towards the Toyota brand and are optimistic about the continuous growth of the Malaysian automotive sector. As we continue to innovate and bring mobility products offering the absolute best technology and safety that enhances lifestyles, we trust that Malaysians will continue to choose Toyota as their preferred road companion,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.

While busy with sales, UMW Toyota Motor also carried out other activities last month. An initiative to give back to the community saw the contribution of RM140,000 to the National Cancer Society Malaysia which will help with the purchase of a new Digital Doppler Ultrasound Machine to provide better treatment to cancer patients.

The company also picked winners of the 15th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest who will travel to Japan and represent Malaysia in the World Contest. The contest, which has been running since 2004, draws entrants from many countries and invites them to show their idea of the future of mobility by drawing their dream car.

The Vios Challenge one-make series will have its fifth season with a total of 6 races during the year.

There’s also a full motorsports program planned for this year, starting with the first round of the Vios Challenge/TGR Festival on March 18 at the Sepang International Circuit. This will be the fifth season of the popular one-make series and will consist of a total of 6 races. Additionally, there will also be the online equivalent – the GR Velocity E-sports championship – also in its fifth season. It is billed as one of the most lucrative local online racing series in the country, attracting close to 1,000 participants with more than 1 million online spectators.

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