The 2016 Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) enters its second round this weekend at Sepang International Circuit (SIC), offering a packed three-day programme for racing fans including the opening races for the inaugural Formula 4 South East Asia championship.
Covering six races as well as free practice and qualifying sessions over the three-day period, Round 2 of the MCS will also feature the prestigious Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup, the Touring Car Series Asia (TCSA) and the exciting Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific one-make race.
After two sprint races in the opening round in May, this weekend’s MCS will be a one-hour endurance challenge around the 5.543km track for both the Touring Production and Malaysia Touring Car championships.
The Touring Production Championship is currently topped by Indonesia’s Fitra Eri while the MTC championship is led by Eri’s Tedco Sakura Racing teammate, Mark Darwin of Malaysia. Both drivers were in superb form in the opening round as they came out top in their respective races.
“It will be a weekend packed with suspense and excitement, providing a thrilling and exhilarating experience for any motor racing fan. Apart from catching top drivers from Malaysia and the region in action, fans will get a glimpse of the future of motorsports in Asia through the newly- introduced Formula 4 South East Asia championship,” said SIC Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Razlan Razali.
“In the MCS, it will be a different ball game altogether with Round 2 featuring an endurance format. While both Fitra and Mark will undoubtedly be among the favourites, it could well be a different story this weekend as plenty of things can happen in an endurance race,” he added.
Promoted by the Asian Autosport Action Group (Triple A) Sdn Bhd in partnership with the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM), the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship runs as a talent development series under a format of one-team, one-make, one-data and one-cost. It is designed as a cost-effective transition from karting to formula racing and is the first step on an FIA-certified career ladder to F1, via F4, F3 and F2.
After an exciting Round 1 in Sepang last May, the Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup returns for its second round with a new entrant – PS Racing, which has entered a Ligier JS 53 for the LMP3 class. The extra entrant means that the event in Sepang will see at least six LMP3 cars, one CN and four GT Cup cars. They will be taking to the track for two free practice sessions, two qualifying sessions and two races.
Meanwhile, the Touring Car Series in Asia (TCSA) enters its second round in Sepang. Founded on 2 January 2012 and fast growing as a popular series in the region and a major touring car event in the Asian motorsports calendar, the series features renowned drivers from Asia, such as Danny Stacy Chau, Ip Tak Meng, Jimmy Lee, Lo Ka Chun, Billy Lo, Man Ting Yu and lady driver Hyemin Moon.
Also on the schedule is the 2016 Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific championship, Round 4 of a six-leg championship. The exciting championship featuring the super high performing, reliable and stylish 458 Challenge EVO held its season opener at the legendary Suzuka Circuit, Japan on the first weekend of March before proceeding to Abu Dhabi in April and moving on to Shanghai for a three-day spectacle on 10 to 12 June 2016.
Round 5 of the 2016 Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific will be held as a support race at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix race in September and the final round will held in Fuji in October alongside the World Endurance Championship race. The series will see its World Final held on 1 to 4 December at Daytona.
Fans can catch all the action this weekend for free from the Main Grandstand.
