Proton R3 Scores Sensational 1-2 in Sepang 1000km Race

Flagged off at 1pm by SIC Chief Commercial Officer Sharmila Nadarajah under cloudy skies after an early morning shower, the race proceeded in ideal conditions as competitors had dry track throughout the eight-plus-hour competition. The Syafiq-Djan partnership was first to reach to the halfway 90-lap mark; clocking 4 hours 8 minutes 43 seconds and just 7.965 seconds ahead of James and Tengku Ezan. HMRT’s Eddie and Aaron was third and about half a lap behind in their Honda Jazz at that point.

The second Proton R3 team has their first taste of race leadership just before the five-hour mark as they completed 108 laps. It, however, lasted less than five laps when they were passed by their more celebrated team-mates.

Though there were brief instances when Syafiq and Djan lost their lead, it was clear that they always had the upper hand over James and Tengku Ezan with a faster machine.

The third works team – Toyota Team Thailand, which featured the country’s top Touring car drivers of Nattaavude Charoensukhawatana, Suttipong Smittachartch and Nattapong Hortongkam took eighth place in their Toyota Altis, completing 167 laps.

Two-time champion, Type R Racing Team’s challenge for a third crown went up in smokes after the left front wheel of their Toyota Altis came off after the 131st lap when the trio of Lai Wee Sing, Soh Kee Koon and Gilbert Ang were in a strong fourth position. They finished the race in 14th place with 158 laps.

Overall champion in 2010, Kenny Lee and his Kegani Racing Team retired after covering 45 difficult laps following gear box problems.

Newly-crowned Malaysian Super Series (MSS) champion Fitra Eri and Mark Darwin of Team Sakura-Tedco Racing failed in their bid for a double victory after only managing 129 laps to finish 22nd in the time sheet.

Singapore’s 16-year old Daim Hishamuddin, who penned himself into the history books as the youngest ever competitor in the event, finished in 21st place with his Sim’s Racing team-mates Megat Shazreal Iskandar and Tunku Mutasim Tunku Daud.

It was a disastrous S1K debut for Malaysia’s illustrious driver Fariqe Hairuman and his DON Racing Team. Partnering experienced drivers Abdul Razak Mohideen and Sutan Mustafa Salihin, their race ended prematurely after 56 laps and less than three hours of racing due to mechanical failure.

The all ladies Red Bull Rookies Team of Siti Shahkirah Shaharul, Illyaquila Fateen Ismail and Geraldine Darlene Read put up a commendable performance to finish in 12th place in their Proton Satria Neo; completing 161 laps.

Hong Kong’s Frank Yee and Malaysians Harry Chai and Umar Abdul Rahman of S&D Motorsports had a nightmare start when their Ford Focus blew its engine during the warm up lap to cancel their participation even before the race starts.

2014 SEPANG 1000KM RACE. TOP 10 FINISHERS – 181 LAPS. (Sepang Circuit – 5.543km)

1.Syafiq Ali/Tengku Djan Ley (Proton Preve) 181 laps (8:17:02.164s)
2. James Veerapan/Tengku Ezan Ley (Proton Suprima S) 181 laps (8:17.02.585s)
3. Eddie Lew/Aaron Lim (Honda Jazz) 180 laps
4. Farriz Fauzy/Alif Hamdan (Honda City) 177 laps
5. Ong Chee Yong/Ramsey Rizal Radzmi/Mohd Afdzal Mohd Nazri (Proton Satria Neo) 172 laps
6. Tan Zhong Zheng/Mohd Henzee Hamzah (Honda Jazz) 172 laps
7. Keifli Othman/Yong Boon Pin (Suzuki Swift Sport) 170 laps
8. Nattaavude/Suttipong/Nattapong Hortongkam (Toyota Altis) 167 laps
9. Yee Kok Jun/Foo Yung Cheh/Nurul Husna Nasharuddin (Proton Satria Neo) 167 laps
10. Desmond Yee/Winson Eu (Proton Satria Neo) 166 laps