The on- and off-track action continues despite COVID-19 disruptions
The curtain raiser for the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival Season 4 is set to take place this weekend (27-28 March 2021) at the Sepang International Circuit. While the whole event will be livestreamed as it operates under a ‘sports bubble’ to prevent the spread of COVID-19, UMW Toyota Motor has plenty of exciting programmes lined up to keep viewers entertained.
Aside from the nerve-wracking races on the track, the audience can also tune in to a new programme called ‘TOYOTA GAZOO Racing OFFTHEGRID’, which will be hosted by the 10 local celebrities who are racing in the Promotional class of the Vios Challenge.
Viewers are also invited to test their singing voice in a segment called ‘Jom Duet Bersama Khai Bahar, Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali’. Fans of Nabil Ahmad and Zizak Razak can catch their favourite comedians in action in ‘Latah Positif’ and ‘Berita Apani’.
Meanwhile, ‘Melodi Misteri’ will see celebrities sing their heart out while wearing a helmet and fans guess the song. GAZOO Racing Ambassador Tengku Djan Ley will take on Toyota’s six new young drivers in a reaction time challenge in a segment called ‘Toyota Arena Bersama Rookies & Tengku Djan’.
Lastly, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers Amer Harris and Mika Hakimi will host ‘Did You SPM?’, where they will ask racers, mechanics and race officials random SPM questions in a test of wits.
The following press release has more information on the upcoming event. Check it out:
PRESS RELEASE
Racing, entertainment and wholesome fun for the family are the three key elements that will continue to spearhead the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival when it’s on and off the track action go live on the internet for Round 1 at the Sepang International Circuit from 27-28 March 2021.
Now into its fourth successive season, the festival’s opening round will be temporarily closed to the public as it operates under the Sports Bubble and in adherence to strict measures to stamp out the COVIC-19 pandemic. Viewers and racing fans nationwide however, will not miss out on any of the action and are invited to tune in to the festival online via Toyota’s website and social media platforms.
“The concept of the festival remains unchanged, only the manner in which it reaches out to the public in these extraordinary and challenging times. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival has primarily been about bringing motorsports to the masses and we will continue to do this,” said UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd President Ravindran K.
While the on-ground atmosphere will be void of fans, Ravindran K. said the silver lining is that the opportunity to live stream the festival and entire race weekend would reach out to an even larger and wider audience, including racing fans outside of Malaysia, who won’t miss a beat tuning into the action from the comfort and safety of their homes.
“The people who have come to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival over the past three seasons have done so for many different reasons. Some come for the racing, others for the chance to spend time with their favourite celebrities, and there are those who are there for the so many different on- ground activities and attractions. Moving forward, it is imperative we continue with this even if it means going online, as this is what has fundamentally made the festival unique and a huge success.”
On track action come in the form of four classes of racing which includes the inaugural running of the Rookie Class that will see six new graduates of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program stepping up from karting and simulator to making their debut in saloon car racing; the Promotional Class which will field 10 local popular celebrities, three of whom are new faces; the Sporting Class for amateur drivers; and the Super Sporting Class for elite and professional drivers.
Race fans can look forward to door-to-door battle that will include three qualifying sessions, six individual races, pit lane insights and interviews with racers.
A new live stream entertainment segment is introduced for the first time for the broadcast, called TOYOTA GAZOO Racing OFFTHEGRID. It will be anchored by the 10 local celebrities who are also racing in the Vios Challenge!
They include actor Shukri Yahaya, actress Janna Nick, presenter Nabil Ahmad, and singers Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar. The three newcomers to Season 4 are actor Zizan Razak, singer/song writer Talitha Tan, television personality Ahirine Ahirudin. All will be competing in the Promotional Class with the exception of beat boxer and two-time Promotional Class champion Shawn Lee who now moves up to take on the big boys in the Sporting Class for amateurs.
In a segment called Jom Duet Bersama Khai Bahar, Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali, fans are invited to participate in an acting and singing duet challenge with the best submissions to be aired during the live stream.
Two of Malaysia’s leading comedians Nabil Ahmad and Zizak Razak will also join forces for Latah Positif and Berita Apani, giving viewers a quirky insight into the festival.
In Melodi Misteri, celebrities will take turns to sing out loud a song that only they can hear while wearing a racing helmet and fans will have to guess the song they are listening to.
Toyota’s six new young drivers (simulator racers Mika Hakimi, 17 and Naquib Azlan, 20; and karters Amer Harris, 17; Jwan Hii, 18; Putera Adam, 14; and Troy Eimann, 16) and GAZOO Racing Ambassador Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel will also go head to head in a battle to test their reaction times in a series of challenges off the circuit in Toyota Arena Bersama Rookies & Tengku Djan.
Fresh from completing their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, two rookies Amer Harris and Mika Hakimi will host Did You SPM?, where they will ask racers, mechanics and race officials random SPM questions in a test of wits.
Ending the live stream broadcast on Saturday and Sunday will be a live performance by the celebrities, something fans to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival have always looked forward to.
All the action of Round 1 will be broadcast live on the UMW Toyota Motor and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia website at https://toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/, and on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.
Broadcast times will be from 8.45 am – 12.10 pm, and 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm on Saturday, and from 10.45 am – 1.00 pm, and 1.30 pm – 5.30 pm on Sunday.
For more information, kindly log on to https://toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/.
