PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit — The 2025 season of the Malaysia Touring Car Championship (MTCC) launched with a thrilling opening round at Sepang International Circuit, as fans witnessed intense battles, unpredictable weather, and standout performances across both MT and TP categories.
Round 1 showcased the growing strength of the championship, with seasoned pros and new talents alike taking to the grid across four adrenaline-filled races.
MT CATEGORY – NIZA RACING LEADS THE CHARGE
In the MT2 class, which ran exclusively this round, Niza Racing’s Car No. 24, driven by Hendra Ade Putra & Ady Rahimy Rashid, claimed back-to-back victories in Race 1 and Race 2.
Race 1 – Saturday, 3 May
MT2 (G) Winners:
1st: Car 24 – Hendra Ade Putra & Ady Rahimy Rashid (Niza Racing)
2nd: Car 919 – Ng Chong Chin & Adam Mikail Mazrul (Sokudo Shezo Racing Team)
3rd: Car 268 – Hii Wan Jian & Wong Yew Choong (Modern Racing Team)
MT2 (V) Winners:
1st: Car 19 – Diivvyesh Perajun & Harkiesh Geeva (DV Motorsport)
2nd: Car 69 – Mohamad Najib & Ahmad Firdaus (22 Proshop)
3rd: Car 123 – Stewart Hine & Albert Lederer (Axle Sports)
“It was a good race and a great strategy by the team,” said Diivvyesh Perajun.
“This is my first-ever race in MTCC,” added Harkiesh Geeva. “Finishing P1 is a blessing. I joined for the experience.”
Race 2 – Sunday, 4 May
MT2 (G) Winners:
1st: Car 24 – Hendra Ade Putra & Ady Rahimy Rashid (Niza Racing)
2nd: Car 131 – Muhammad Hakimi & Nur Muhammad Azfar (R-Engineering)
3rd: Car 8 – Jonathan Xie & Mark Darwin (OPM Lite Racing)
MT2 (V) Winners:
1st: Car 72 – Lee Chee Wah & Lester Lian Jia Wei (Axwerkz)
2nd: Car 7 – Mark Chew & Kenny Chan (Pitworks Kuraz)
3rd: Car 88 – Shafiq Samsudin & Sophia Zara (G-Mart Best Autosport)
“The most challenging part was dealing with the time penalty,” said Ady Rahimy.
“Hendra did a great job as the first driver—he overtook the leading car and gave it everything.”
TP CATEGORY – STRATEGY AND SURPRISES ON A DIVERSE GRID
In the TP class, two tightly contested sprint races highlighted the weekend.
Race 1 – Saturday, 3 May
TP Winners:
1st: Car 17 – Jonathan Xie (OPM Lite X Skuber Race Team)
2nd: Car 339 – Leon Khoo Beng Koon (R-Engineering)
3rd: Car 21 – Wong Yew Choong (Modern Racing Team)
TP2 Winners:
1st: Car 444 – Jesmond Tan Yong How (R-Engineering)
2nd: Car 11 – Chiow Teck Song (R-Engineering)
3rd: Car 28 – Kingston Tan Hong Ray (No Coffee No Cure)
“Tyre conservation was crucial,” said Xie. “I needed to plan usage wisely as other teams were experiencing tyre issues.”
Race 2 – Sunday, 4 May
TP Winners:
1st: Car 8 – Faidzil Alang (Super Power Lubricants by Papaya)
2nd: Car 21 – Wong Yew Choong (Modern Racing Team)
3rd: Car 17 – Jonathan Xie (OPM Lite X Skuber Race Team)
TP2 Winners:
1st: Car 444 – Jesmond Tan Yong How (R-Engineering)
2nd: Car 55 – Ken Urata (Rworks Riyoz Racing)
3rd: Car 11 – Chiow Teck Song (R-Engineering)
“We didn’t expect this result, especially starting from the back,” said Faidzil. “The team changed the car setup completely from yesterday. The wet conditions made it even more challenging, but the car performed exceptionally.”
SIC CEO HAILS SUCCESSFUL SEASON START
Azhan Shafriman Hanif, CEO of Sepang International Circuit, praised the weekend’s success:
“We kicked off the 2025 season of MTCC with a strong start. Conditions were humid with occasional rain—true to Sepang’s reputation. It was great to see new talents on the grid alongside racing legends. The increase in spectators this year shows that motorsport in Malaysia is on the rise.”
“I encourage more fans to follow the championship—whether by attending the races or watching our livestreams on YouTube and Facebook. See you in Round 2!”
UPCOMING: ROUND 2 – JULY 25–27, 2025
The Malaysia Touring Car Championship returns for Round 2 from 25–27 July 2025, with the MTC class set to feature in a much-anticipated double-header. Expect more high-stakes racing and emerging rivalries as the championship heats up.
Follow MTCC on social media and visit www.sepangcircuit.com for live coverage, standings, and updates.
