Bendix celebrates 100 years of the brand spearheading global automotive braking technology announcing that it will continue to support the development and quality of its product range by placing them under the extreme demands of motorsports.
Bendix, via its Malaysian office FMP Automotive (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, today announced the brand’s continued sponsorship of the SKILLDRVN One Make Race Series in Malaysia and the appointment of accomplished touring car driver Kenny Lee as its Malaysian brand ambassador.
“Our involvement extends beyond the use of Bendix products in the form of brake pads in the one make race series but more importantly it provides racers with products that are of exceptional quality and will assure them of the performance they require to withstand extremely hard braking conditions,” said FMP Automotive (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd Regional Sales & Marketing Manager Mr Seow Kok Loi.
“As a premium quality brand and a leader in the medium and premium segments, Bendix products continue to lead and innovate in its technology in terms of braking products. One prime example is by becoming the first to introduce a special shape design for the brake pads (the Stealth design) which helped to significantly reduce noise during braking. Bendix brake pads also come with what is called the Blue Titanium Stripe and this has become an industry leader to reduce the bedding-in process on brake pads which allow car owners to immediately benefit from the optimized performance of the product immediately upon installation.”
Introduced into the global market in 1924, Bendix officially made its presence in Malaysia in 1990. Today, its product range (brake pads, brake shoes, brake discs, brake linings, brake fluids and brake parts lubricants) caters to more than 95% of passenger vehicles, performance vehicles, electric vehicles, 4WDs, commercial vehicles as well as motorcycles, and the brand also supplies to car manufacturers PROTON and Perodua. The brand also has an extensive network of 1,000 distributors, wholesalers, spare parts shops and workshops providing services to car owners and fleet customers nationwide.
The brand’s sponsorship of the SKILLDRVN One Make Race Series which is into its second year will see participants competing in identical race cars fitted with controlled brake pads supplied by Bendix.
A total of 16 units of standard production Suzuki Swift will line up the grid for Season 2 of the SKILLDRVN One Make Race Series and will compete in 6 rounds at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit. The Series will also introduce a new LITE version One Make Race (OMR Lite) with only limited modifications to suspension, wheels and tyres in an effort to further reduce the cost of racing. Also new in 2024, is a Ladies Class to encourage the participation of more female racers.
Organized by Kegani Racing Academy, the SKILLDRVN One Make Race Series marks an unwavering commitment to nurturing motorsports talent, whereby participants – namely newcomers – hone their race driving skills and race craft through a comprehensive program coursework before being inducted into racing. The Academy was founded in 2021, and its first 6 graduates went on to debut at the 2022 Sepang 1000KM Endurance race prior to the One Make Race Series being introduced in 2023.
“We’re extremely proud to have Bendix on board for a second year. The products have been instrumental in ensuring participants have exceptional braking performance on track while at the same time ensuring a level playing field. The SKILLDRVN One Make Series prides itself on being a grassroots racing platform, incorporating proper guidance and education to minimize learning costs while accelerating the learning curve of aspiring racers,” said Kegani Racing Academy Team Principal and Chief Coach Kenny Lee.
“It’s all about making racing affordable and available to the masses, and challenging conventional belief and perception to make it more inclusive for everyone. By enhancing affordability, we seek to attract a broader audience and, in turn, cultivate and nurture young talents who dream of making it big in the world of motorsports.”
Lee said in addition to the One Make Race Series, Kegani Racing Academy will also be sending a two-car entry to this year’s Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race, and to the Thai 25 Hours Super Endurance Race later in the year. In 2022, Lee had led a team of 18 Malaysian drivers to compete in the Thai 25 Hours Super Endurance Race where they achieved 2 Class victories.
As an accomplished touring car driver with 19 years of racing experience and 103 race starts, Lee’s track record has made him one of the most decorated saloon car drivers in Malaysia. Apart from a host of race wins in the domestic national race series, he was the overall champion of the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race in 2010; the Touring Production champion in the 2015 and 2016 Sepang 12 Hour Race; the Vios One Make Class winner in the 2021 Thailand Idemitsu 12 Hours Super Endurance Race; and 4th (ST4 Class) in the Japanese Super Taikyu FUJI 24 Hours Race in 2019.
As Malaysia’s newly-appointed Bendix Ambassador, Lee’s association with Bendix dates to as far back as 1998 when he first started driving on the track.
“My first set of performance brake pads I used back then was the Bendix Metal King Plus. I was also very fortunate to have been sponsored by Bendix in the 2005 and 2006 Merdeka 12-Hour Endurance Race. Bendix products have and continues to reassure me both on the track and on the road and I am extremely happy that this is an experience I can now share and pass on to my participants in the SKILLDRVN One Make Race Series as well as students at the Kegani Racing Academy,” said the 44-year-old.
For more information, visit our website at: www.bendix.com.my
