Malaysian Super GT Success on and off the track
More than 100,000 fans make it a record turn-out and the
most exciting and explosive Malaysian round of the Super GT Series yet
Petaling Jaya, 18 June 2013 - The atmosphere was explosive
with more than 100,000 spectators flocking to the Sepang International Circuit
over two days, and was by far the biggest, most exciting, successful and
activity-packed Malaysian Super GT race weekend.
The sight of more than 1,300 high-powered motorcycles on the
main straight of the Sepang International Circuit; over 11,000 fans who partied
to the electrifying Dash Berlin World Tour rave party on Saturday night (15
June); a full-blown motor show displaying a wide collection of classics and
street customs to the latest production models and super cars; an non-stop
stage performance and a recreation of a
Japan Town successfully attracted race fans, their family and more importantly
non-motoring enthusiasts who flocked to the circuit for a fun-filled weekend.
"What JPM Motorsport has done as the race promoter of
the Malaysian round of the Autobacs Super GT Series was simply incredible with
a lot of off track activities. This is a very strong combination (on and off
track activities) and something that has significantly raised the image and
profile of the Series to new and higher level," said Maasaki Bandoh,
Chairman of the Japan GT Association.
Formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship
(JGTC), the Autobacs Super GT Series is a grand touring car race series
promoted by the Japan GT Association and was first established in 1993 by its
parent organisation the JAF (Japanese Automobile Federation).
While the Series celebrates its 20th anniversary, the
Malaysian round, which is the only international stopover for what is
recognised as being one of the world’s fastest and most exciting GT racing
series, ushered in its 13th year of hosting the race. For JPM Motorsport, it
was the company's third successive year of being entrusted to organise the
Malaysian round of Autobacs Super GT Series.
"It's been a phenomenal race weekend and extremely
rewarding to see all the hardwork and effort being rewarded with record
breaking spectators numbers coming to the race weekend over the two days (15
and 16 June)," said JPM Motorsport Founder JP Chin.
While race fans witnessed a very closely-fought battle on
track between three dominating car manufacturers Nissan, Lexus and Honda,
thousands of other visitors who turned up at over the race weekend were seen
pre-occupied with the many attractions that had transformed the entire Sepang
International Circuit Mall Area into a carnival for both race and automotive
fans, as well as for the entire family.
"As a promoter, it has always been our objective to
attract both racing fans as well as the non-racing and automotive fans
especially families in the Klang Valley to come to the event, by presenting
everyone with a unique and attractive weekend proposition," said Chin.
"I'm extremely happy that this concept is beginning to
gain greater acceptance. We call it a five-star approach to creating an
exciting weekend for everyone."
Several local car distributors had taken advantage of the
Malaysian Super GT weekend to introduce new models and variants at the Affin
Bank Motor Show, among them Subaru which officially launched the all-new Subaru
BRZ for the Malaysian market. Nissan meanwhile, showcased the international
premiere of its Nissan Almera Nismo Performance Package while local car
manufacturer PROTON and its motorsports division R3 (Race.Rally.Research)
meanwhile, displayed the Proton R3 Preve racing car and the R3 Satria Neo in
addition to offering enthusiasts discounts on R3 performance parts and
accessories.
Against the backdrop of super cars that included Porsche,
Ferrari and Lamborghini, the biggest attraction at the Affin Bank Motor Show
however, was the vast collection of American street customs and muscle cars on
display which also served a preview of Summernats, Australia’s premier event
for street machines and, another prestigious event to be co-organised by JPM
Motorsport in Malaysia in 2014.
And for the very first time, a total of 155 Honda CRZ hybrid
cars converged on the Sepang International Circuit, and were later given some
track time around the 5.543km track. Also there were about 50 Porsche 911
gathered on the F1 track on Saturday (15 June) to celebrate the 50th
Anniversary of Porsche 911.
Fans to the Super GT weekend also witnessed a huge congregation
of local motorcycle clubs and what was essentially the biggest and loudest bike
gathering at Sepang International Circuit led by 80 police bikers with an
estimate of no less than 1,300 big motorcycles of various make, model and size
gathering on the racing track in front of the main grandstand before going on a
procession lap. Also organised was a big bike burn-out contest and an auto
salon for motorcycles.
The mall area was absolutely alive and abuzz with numerous
activities. Japan Town was a recreation of watching the Super GT race in a
Japanese town in mid-summer, and this was complemented by a K-POP dance
competiton, self defense skills demonstrations (Judo and Karatae), a sushi
eating contest, and a special stage appearance by the Super GT Race Queens.
Race fans also witnessed the crowning of the 2013 Malaysian Super GT Queen in
the SUPER GT Queen Search competition.
Two one-hour sessions and a single two-hour session of the
customary pit walkabout session over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday respectively)
attracted a full house of spectators and shutterbugs who went from pit to pit
to see the GT 500 and GT 300 cars up close and personal, and to photograph and
meet in person the Super GT drivers and the team Race Queens.
The main event on Sunday returned to the track where fans
witnessed the Calsonic IMPUL GT-R's Tsugio Matsuda and Joao Paulo Lima De
Oliveira winning the two-hour race in the GT 500 class, finishing four seconds
ahead of the Denso Kobelco SC430 team and eight seconds in front of the Raybrig
HSV-010 car which saw the top three places going to Nissan, Toyota and Honda.
Victory in the GT 300 class meanwhile, went to ARTA CR-Z
GT's Shinichi Takagi and Takashi Kobayashi who won from pole position,
finishing two seconds ahead of the pair of Hideki Mutoh and Yuhki Nakayama of
the Mugen CR-Z GT Team for a top two finish for Honda. Finishing third and 21
seconds behind was the Gainer Dixel SLS of Katsuyuki Hiranaka and Bjorn
Wirdheim.
This year’s on track supporting events was also backed by
the very first Asia Cup single-seater race organized by Meritus and the
inaugural running of a six-lap Toyota T86 Celebrity Race which was won by
Malaysia's Prince of Drift Tengku Djan Ley. Car enthusiast also got their
opportunity to compete in a gymkhana organised by Ultra Racing.
Can't wait for next year yo!
XD
