Toyota is entering 2025 with new talent, new races and new levels of excitement for you
2025 seems to be a year of progress for many and as the world is now officially back in full swing after the recent pandemic, it appears that UMW Toyota Motor is also ready to rock and roll. That’s right for 2025, Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia shifts into high gear, unveiling an electrifying new era.
The upcoming season brings a refreshed VIOS Challenge, the debut of the Toyota GR Malaysia eRacing Championship, and enhanced initiatives under the Young Talent Development Program, all designed to fuel passion, performance and community growth. Datuk Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor, stated, “Motorsports is in our DNA. After nine years, we’re not just continuing this journey—we’re elevating it.”
Moreover, returning as Malaysia’s most-watched racing event with over 30 million cumulative views since 2017, the 2025 Toyota VIOS Challenge kicks off from 25 to 27 April at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit. The season features four high-octane rounds across three classes, namely the Super Sporting Class (for professionals), Sporting Class (for amateurs) and Rookie Class (for young driver development).
In these races, drivers will compete in identical 4th-gen Vios race cars, powered by 1.5L engines and 5-speed transmissions, emphasizing driver skill over machine advantage. The championship boasts RM800,000 in prize money, and fans can expect tight, door-to-door racing. This year, top-tier racers like Boy Wong, Mitchell Cheah and Freddie Ang return,
Meanwhile newcomers like Kenneth Koh and Timothy Yeo make their Super Sporting debut. In the Sporting Class, 20 drivers, including four female competitors, will battle for glory. Now in its fourth year, the Toyota GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program has trained 22 future racers, with several earning international wins.
On top of that, the 2025 Rookie Class features five promising talents from karting and sim racing backgrounds, including Aydan Khaliq and Genevieve Ooi. Building on its eMotorsports legacy since 2018, Toyota also introduces the Toyota GR Malaysia eRacing Championship in 2025.
Expanding to top-tier platforms like Assetto Corsa, RaceRoom, and iRacing, the competition offers a more realistic and globally recognized racing experience. Qualifiers begin in May, with the Toyota Campus Tour returning to universities to scout the next generation of sim racing stars.
Toyota also welcomes Taj Izrin Aiman, GR GT Cup Asia 2024 winner, into its development pipeline, marking a new synergy between real and virtual racing. Well it appears that 2025 will be an exciting year indeed.
