Sports Production champion leader Alif Hamdan’s gamble in switching to the premier GT Open Class in the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) paid off as the young Malaysian upstaged his more experienced rivals to win Round 3 at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) today. Partnering New Zealand’s Earl Bamber, their victory was made even sweeter as the Nexus Racing drivers had to start from the back of the grid after failing to register any lap time in qualifying yesterday.
Speaking after the race, Bamber paid tribute to the hard work of Alif, whom the Kiwi said performed outstandingly to take their Radical SR8 machine amongst the leaders when driving duties was passed to him. Bamber also attributed victory to the team crew, whom he had worked amazingly to prepare the machine throughout the night in fixing the mechanical problem and deliver a superb machine, which had made their driving duties much easier. Commenting on the decision to switch classes, Alif said the decision was made in view of the team’s decision to compete in the GT Open class at the 12-hour Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER), which is schedule in August. To partner Nexus Racing team owner Adrian d’ Silva in the 12-hour endurance race, Alif said that the team has yet to decide on their race car for the MMER.
Arrows Racing’s Noel Becker and Luca Pirri took second place today with 26 laps completed around the 5.543-km track while the partnership of Denis Lian and Kenneth Low, who started from pole position, took the final step on the podium.
Championship leader Nur Ida Natasha Seatter, who decided on driving solo for the round, could only managed seventh place after the 19-year driver was forced to complete more than three quarter of her race without any brakes. After a commendable start, which saw her climbing to second at one point, her Radical SR8 machine lost her brakes on Lap 5; prompting her to make an unscheduled stop on Lap 6 to fix the problem but with little success. With her Radical SR8 machine crawling around the 5.543-km track, she managed to complete 19 laps to put her in seventh place. Race officials, however, later decided to declare a DNF (Did Not Finish) result on her as she failed to cover 75 percent of the race.
Defending champion Vignesa Moorthy, who partnered Graham Stephenson, was also unlucky in Round 3 after they had to retire with 25 laps following mechanical problems in their Radical SR8 machine. Championship leader Damian Dielenberg and Tommy Lee strengthen their grip at the top of the championship standings with their third win of the season and a first in the one-hour endurance format. Picking another 25 vital points to take their tally to 100 points, the duo took 1 hour 2 minutes and 584 seconds to complete 22 laps; edging surprise second-place winner Faidzil Alang and Mohd Ridzuan Nor Mohd, who also completed 22 laps.
In the Malaysian Touring Car (MTC) class, the awesome partnership of Boy Wong Yew Choong and Soh Kee Koon, who were competing for the first time this season in the MSS, swept aside their rivals to win Round 3. Two-time MSS Supersixteen champion Lai Wee Sing, who is also a two-time SepangDrag Battle champion, took second place with championship leader Syafiq Ali, who decided to share driving duties with Masedenial Ali, had to be contended with third place.
MALAYSIAN SUPER SERIES CARS – ROUND 3, Top Five Finishers – One Hour Endurance Race. Sepang Circuit (5.543km)
GT OPEN CLASS
1.Alif Hamdan/Earl Bamber (Radical SR8) 27 laps
2. Noel Becker/Lucca Pirri (Radical SR8) 26 laps
3. Denis Lian/Kenneth Low (Juno) 26 laps
4. Hsein Tsung Hsein/Chin Lin San (Porsche Cup) 24 laps
5. Ashan Silva (Nissan Fairlady) 24 laps
TOURING PRODUCTION CLASS
1.Damian Dielenberg/Tommy Lee (Honda Integra DC5) 22 laps (1:02.32.584s)
2. Faidzil Alang/Mohd Ridzuan (Honda Integra DC5) 22 laps
3. Kenny Lee (Toyota Altezza) 22 laps
4. Gerald Tan (Honda Integra DC5) 22 laps
5. Winson Eu/ A.Kesavamoorthy (Honda FD2) 22 laps
MALAYSIAN TOURING CAR CLASS
1.Wong Yew Choong/Soh Kee Koon (Toyota Altis) 21 laps (1:02.33.551s)
2. Lai Wee Sing (Proton Satria Neo) 21 laps
3.Syafiq Ali/Masdenial Ali (Proton Satria Neo) 21 laps
4. Kok Pak Chiang/Sutan Mustapha (Proton Satria Neo) 21 laps
5. Rally Marina/Marshal Jahja (Proton Satria Neo) 21 laps
