SEPANG DRAG BATTLE 2012 – PREVIEW ROUND 3

Round 3 Generating Strong Interest – On and Off Track 
Sepang Drag Battle – the one and only drag racing championship currently sanctioned by Malaysia’s motorsports governing body, the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) – enters its third round at Sepang Circuit this Saturday with competition expected to be fiercer and more tense as the championship leaders attempt to break away from their rivals at the half way mark of its competition. Off-track, the event is also expected to draw strong interest from the motorsports fraternity as the sport attempts to make an immediate recovery after having its image severely battered by the unfortunate incident at the recent drag race event in Putrajaya.
Organised and run using one of the key streets at the national helloistrative capital in a carnival-like atmosphere, things went wrong when a competing car ploughed into a group of spectators outside the race perimeters after the driver lost control of his racing machine when making one of its free runs; seriously injuring four of them.
Inevitably, the incident generated huge debate especially in the media; handing a massive blow to the drag racing sports, which had been diligently promoted by Sepang International Circuit (SIC) since its inception in the circuit’s efforts in promoting and nurturing interest for motorsports in Malaysia; and making motor racing as culture amongst its people in the long run. 
Promoted and organized by SIC, Sepang Drag Battle has been a permanent feature at the circuit since 2003 when it started as a club event before developing to become a fully sanctioned event by AAM two years later. Drawing entries up to 100 cars and drivers as far as Terengganu and Johor, each round attracted some 5,000 spectators including outside the Klang Valley.      
Using sophisticated and up-date timing system, competitions are run at the circuit’s Main Straight on a marked 402-metre stretch on Saturday nights, with spectators enjoying the race either from the Main Grandstand or at the Paddock Building rooftop. Tickets for the event are priced at RM10 for seats at the Main Grandstand and RM50 for entry at the paddock, which will allow fans to get a closer look at the team crew in action as they prepare their cars for battle as well as meeting the drivers and race engineers for valuable tips and guidance.
For Round 3, the fans’ attention will be on the amazing Nur Faizun Nasri, who had sensationally scored double victories in Class D for two-wheel drive turbo-engine 2000cc cars and Class F for non V-tech engine cars in the two opening rounds to lead both classes with a maximum score of 10 points. Equally sensational is Mohd Iqbal Ismail Tajinder, who leads Class C for two-wheel drive 2000cc engine cars with maximum points after winning Round 1 and Round 2. He holds a six-point advantage over closest rival Ikhmy Adzwan Jamuri and a seven-point lead over third placed and younger brother, Mohd Iqram.
Competition in the two leading classes – Class A and Class B is tight with the two leaders locked at the top of the standings. Wan Mohd Salimee, the defending champion for the open category, has five points; sharing top position with Tan Wai Loong, winner of the opening round.
Class B for two-wheel drive cars with limited forced induction has Mohd Syukri Mohd Nor and Chua Soon Chuan leading the category with five championship points; and closely challenged by Nur Faizun and Ahmad Firdaus Azman, who have three points each.
The compact car category or Class E is currently led by Hamdani Abdul Ghani, who has six points after two rounds in this five-round championship.
Championship standings after Round 2

Class A
(Open class)
1.Tan Wai Loong (Mitsubishi Evo 3) 6 pts
2. Sheikh Mohd Salimee (Nissan Skyline) 6 pts
3. Mohd Zaidi Amzah (Proton Wira) 5 pts
4. Suzaimi Ahmad (Daihatsu Charade) 5 pts

Class B
(Two-wheel drive with limited forced induction)
1.Mohd Syukri Mohd Nor (Proton Satria) 5 pts
2. Chua Soon Chuan (Honda) 5 pts
3. Ahmad Firdaus Azman (Honda Civic) 3 pts
4. Nur Faizun Nasri (Honda Civic) 3 pts
5. Khairul Anwar (Proton Satria) 3 pts
6. Muhammad Ridzwan Ahmad (Honda Civic) 2 pts
7. Mohd Maziz Abdullah (Honda Civic) 1 pt

Class C
(Two-wheel drive for 2000cc engines)
1.Mohd Iqbal Ismail Tajinder (Honda CRX) 10 pts
2. Ikmy Adzwan Jamuri (Honda Civic) 4 pts
3. Mohd Iqram Ismail Tajinder (Honda) 3 pts
4. Ahmad Firdaus Azman (Honda Civic) 3 pts
5. Hairul Izani Mohd Ashror (Honda CRX) 2 pts

Class D
(Two wheel  drive turbo engine 2000cc and below)
1.Nur Faizun Nasri (Honda Civic) 10 pts
2. Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad (Honda Civic) 4 pts
3. Mohd Sani Ali (Proton Satria) 3 pts
4. Khairul Anwar (Proton Satria) 2 pts
5. Mohd Iqbal Ismail Tajinder (Proton Satria) 2 pts
6. Ismarizan Ishak (Proton Satria) 1 pt

Class E
(Cars with engines 1000cc and below)
1.Hamdani Abdul Ghani (Perodua Kelisa) 6 pts
2. Mohd Nasir Abdul Aziz (Perodua Kancil) 5 pts
3. Azery Mohd Norzali (Perodua Kancil) 4 pts
4. Mohd Afizi Abdullah (Perodua Kancil) 3 pts
5. Azizul Ariff Mohd Zaki (Perodua Kancil) 3 pts
6. Mohd Al Hafiz Mohd Sharip (Perodua Kancil) 1 pt

Class F
(Cars with Non V-tech engines)
1.Nur Faizun Nasri (Honda CRX) 10 pts
2. Gan Kim Koa (Honda EF) 3 pts
3. Azery Mohd Norzali (Proton Satria) 3 pts
4. Zulkifli Zainal Abidin (Honda CRX) 2 pts
5. Ahmad Firdaus Azman (Proton Satria) 1 pt
6. Nazrul Idham Mohd Noh (Proton Satria) 1 pt