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31st July 2008, Sepang – With the
race exactly a month away, the 2008
Merdeka Millennium Endurance race (MME)
has already secured a total of 47 entries
and race promoters, Sepang International
Circuit (SIC) is confident of a
registration of more than 100 entries this
year.
“Again, the response from the motor racing
fraternity for this race is very
encouraging. We had 103 cars and 309
drivers registering last year and I am
confident that the numbers would be about
the same; if not more. The MME has clearly
progressed to become Asia’s Biggest Race
as it had aspired when we first mooted the
idea of organising the 12-hour endurance
race in 2000,” said SIC General Manager
Datuk Azmi Murad, who is the event
director of the 2008 Merdeka Millennium
Endurance Race.
According to Azmi, the 2008 event had
generated a lot of interest from the
international teams and he attributed the
interest from the new regulations
introduced this year to allow up to 20
cars from the open class for fully
modified cars and 20 more from Class A
(for cars above 1900cc) to qualify for the
race.
“We’ll definitely see more supercars this
time round. I am pleased to say that we
have very good response from the
international teams,” said Azmi, adding
that the new regulations to reduce the
lesser powered cars was aimed at enhancing
safety for the competitors and to provide
more enjoyment for the fans.
Divided in four classes and with three
drivers to a car, the two remaining
classes competing in the MME are Class B
for cars with engines between 1601cc and
1900cc and Class C for cars below 1600cc,
which used to have 26 cars for each class
on the starting grid. This year, Class B
will have a maximum of 19 cars and only 18
cars for Class C.
Entering its ninth edition this year, the
MME only allows a maximum of 77 starters
on the grid as provided by the circuit
license issued by the International
Federation of Automobile (FIA), the
world’s motorsports governing body.
While qualifying would be held on August
29, the race would be flagged off at
11.45am on the following day on Saturday,
30 August and ending 12 hours later at
11.45pm. This year’s event would also
feature three support races – the Asia
Supercars Challenge, the Hong Kong Classic
Cars Series and the single-seater junior
formula Petronas Formula Xperience.
Last year, the MME race was won by the
Hong Leong Kencana Racing Team with
drivers Swedish Sven Herberger, Lars Erik
Nielsen of Denmark and Malaysian Mokhzani
Mahathir, which competes in the open class
in a Porsche GT3 Cup RSR. Class A was won
by Honda Malaysia Racing Team that
featured two Super GT drivers Hiroko Katoh
and Shinya Hosokawa and Malaysian Eddie
Lew in a two-liter Honda Civic Type R race
car.
Class B was won by an all Malaysian team
of Boy Wong Yew Choong, Tek Kean Kang and
Soh Kee Koon from Type R Racing Team in a
Honda Integra while JC Racing topped the
battle of 1600cc Class C with drivers
Harry Chai, Tam Wei Han and Frank Yee of
Hong Kong; driving a Honda Civic.
“We were treated to a superb race last
year. This year should be even more
exciting. I am made to understand that we
would be seeing more top international
teams and international drivers this
year,” said Azmi at a special ceremony to
announce the official partners for 2008
Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race.
While RTM will be the Host Broadcaster and
Silverstone is the Official Tyre for Class
B and C, Cartrade – ABT would be providing
the official cars for the event.
At the event, Hong Leong Kencana Racing
Team handed over the MME Challenge Trophy
to Azmi; symbolizing that start of a
one-month countdown of the event. Tek Kean
Kang of Type R Racing Team handed over the
Silverstone Challenge Trophy for Class B
and C.
To catch the exciting news and watch the
latest result on Merdeka Millennium
Endurance, visit
www.malaysiangp.com.my for more info.
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