MALAYSIAN SUPER GT SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE TRACK
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| · 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.
