All-Malaysian outfit finishes third overall in GT3-AM and fourth in GT3 after a breakthrough second season in European endurance racing
BARCELONA, SPAIN – Viper Niza Racing has capped off a remarkable 2026 European Michelin 24H Series campaign by securing third overall in the GT3-AM Class and fourth overall in GT3, marking a significant milestone for the all-Malaysian team in only its second season of international endurance racing.
The achievement was sealed at the 24 Hours of Barcelona at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Viper Niza Racing delivered one of its strongest performances of the season aboard its #65 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
The Malaysian outfit arrived in Barcelona third in the GT3-AM standings, knowing it had an opportunity to challenge for second while simultaneously defending its podium position from Continental Racing by Simpson Motorsport.
The weekend got off to a dream start when the team secured its first-ever GT3-AM pole position.
From there, drivers Douglas Khoo, Dominic Ang, Melvin Moh and Aaron Lim produced a disciplined 24-hour performance, completing 699 laps of the 4.657km circuit to finish third in GT3-AM and sixth overall in the GT3 classification.
The result was achieved despite a brief scare when the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO made slight contact with a GT4 Porsche Cayman.
Ang took the opening stint and quickly established himself inside the top six before Viper Niza Racing became embroiled in a closely fought battle for the GT3-AM lead with Getspeed Team JR286 and Hofor Racing.
As the race unfolded, the Malaysian team remained firmly in contention. Continental Racing by Simpson Motorsport eventually dropped out of contention for the championship positions, while Getspeed Team JR286 was later affected by a wheel-bearing issue.
However, the BMW M4 GT3 Evo of HAAS RT ultimately finished second in class, influencing the points distribution and leaving Viper Niza Racing just short of what could have been a second-place championship finish.
When the chequered flag finally fell, only eight points separated the top three teams in the GT3-AM championship.
Hofor Racing finished on 152 points, followed by Getspeed Team JR286 on 148, with Viper Niza Racing completing the podium on 144 points.
The Malaysian team also secured 102 points for fourth overall in the GT3 standings.
“We’re not going to delve into what could have been, but celebrate this hard-earned 3rd overall in the Series which was the original target we had set for the team coming into 2026,” said Team Principal and lead driver Douglas Khoo.
Khoo also highlighted the importance of simply completing the demanding Barcelona endurance race, particularly given the attrition suffered by several competing teams.
“The first biggest obstacle one has to overcome before even thinking of your nearest competitor is to finish the 24-hour race. That in itself was a huge accomplishment and to do it without experiencing any major incidents and technical setbacks was a blessing considering Barcelona inflicted quite a significant degree of damage to several of the other top teams,” he said.
The 2026 campaign represented a clear step forward for Viper Niza Racing.
The team began the season at Mugello with an eighth-place GT3 and fourth-place GT3-AM finish before progressing to fifth in GT3 and fourth in GT3-AM at Spa-Francorchamps.
At Paul Ricard, the team finished fifth in GT3 and third in GT3-AM, before producing its strongest pre-Barcelona result at the Nürburgring with third in GT3 and second in GT3-AM.
The consistency ultimately proved decisive.
Viper Niza Racing accumulated 144 GT3-AM points in 2026, an improvement on the 110 points scored during its debut campaign in 2025. The team also improved its championship position from fourth overall in GT3-AM and sixth in GT3 in 2025.
For Khoo, however, the achievement extends beyond the championship table.
He credited the result to the commitment of Viper Niza Racing’s Malaysian drivers, mechanics and race engineers, as well as the team’s determination to demonstrate that Malaysian talent can compete successfully on the global GT racing stage.
“Accumulating 144 points throughout the season was more than the 110 points we collected in 2025 and with just 8 points separating the top three teams, it shows just how competitive this Series really is,” said Khoo.
“We’re extremely proud to be a part of this Series and to be on the podium in just our second season of racing is an incredibly rewarding feeling. We also want to thank all our partners and sponsors who believe in this journey.”
Backed by Motul, IWC as its Official Watch Brand, Momentum Autoparts and SPARCO Italy, Viper Niza Racing’s 2026 campaign has established the Malaysian team as a serious contender in European GT endurance racing.
From Mugello to Spa-Francorchamps, Paul Ricard, the Nürburgring and finally Barcelona, the #65 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO has carried Malaysian colours through some of Europe’s toughest endurance races.
And with a championship podium secured in only its second season, Viper Niza Racing leaves Barcelona with something considerably bigger than a points tally — proof that an all-Malaysian operation can stand on the international endurance racing stage and fight for honours.
