The all-Malaysian team of Wing Hin Motorsports with young drivers Naquib Azlan and Amer Harris has certainly emerged to become a formidable force on the track when they finished second their first time out in GT4 class racing at the Thailand Super Series recently.
Debuting in the series behind the wheel of a Toyota GR Supra GT4, the pair of Naquib and Amer had made the most of home advantage at the 5.543km Petronas Sepang International Circuit to finish on the podium. The two drivers – regarded as being amongst the rising young stars of Malaysian circuit racing – had also posted second fastest in qualifying.
The pair finished the 1-hour race ahead of two Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport cars and more than a minute in front of the nearest rival Toyota GR Supra GT4 to emerge as the fastest amongst four Toyota GR Supra GT4s entered in the race. They finished just 4.5 seconds adrift of the winning Mercedes AMG GT.
“Second place was still a strong result for both Amer and I as well the team. There’s still so much more of potential to be unlocked in the new car but we’re glad that we have been able to find a good baseline to start with and come away with a podium finish especially at our home race in Malaysia,” said 24-year-old Naquib.
“Our goal is to be on the top step and we intend to get there gradually. With more seat time we are confident we can optimize the performance of the car.”
With one of the two scheduled races in Round 3 held at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit being cancelled due to extreme wet weather conditions, Round 4 of the Thailand Super Series returns to Malaysia from 6-8 September but with three races being scheduled.
“This was only the first race that we joined and there is still a lot of room for improvement and data to be collected and assessed. As we go along we will unlock more potential in both the drivers and car. We also have to learn the characteristics of the car and to find the best possible match between man and machine,” said Wing Hin Motorsports Team Principal William Loh.
“The two drivers believe they can do better and the confidence is at an all-time high. We hope to be back even stronger in the next three races also scheduled to take place at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit in September.”
A former Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race winner, Wing Hin Motorsports is also competing in the full season of this year’s Super Compact Class in the Thailand Super Series. Last year the teamsecured a Class victory in the 10-hour Idemitsu Super Endurance 600 Southeast Asia Trophy.
The move into GT4 class racing is in line with competing in the higher levels of racing, but to also help develop and give talented young Malaysian drivers the opportunity and exposure to excel internationally.
