Sepang – The Michelin 12H of Malaysia at Petronas Sepang International Circuit from the 5-6th of December will kick off Viper Niza Racing Team’s international endurance racing campaign in 2026 and sets the stage for an attempt to claim back-to-back podium finishes in a 12-hour race on home ground within the same year.
While the circuit will play host to the Series for the very first time – also the first time the series has been held in Southeast Asia – Viper Niza Racing Team has already had a taste of triumph when it went on to win in the GT AM Masters class and claimed a second place in the GT AM class at the Motul 12 Hours of Sepang held in March this year with trio Douglas Khoo, Dominic Ang and Melvin Moh. That victory was also reminiscent of the all-Malaysian team’s accomplishment in the same event in 2024.
“Being a home circuit, the Petronas Sepang International Circuit has been kind to us looking at past accomplishments. However, while we are confident of another 12-hour stint on the track, there’s nothing about endurance racing that can be taken for granted despite all the pre-race preparation undertaken,” said Khoo, who is also Viper Niza Racing Team’s Principal.
“We approach every race weekend the same – prepared, determined and with great perseverance. But you won’t know the degree of challenges ahead until the race starts. Being on the podium again at Sepang for another 12-hour race will be a great way to end 2025 and kick start our 2026 campaign.”
The Middle East Series will feature three rounds and after Malaysia, moves to the Michelin 6H of Abu Dhabi from 9-10 January before closing with the Michelin 24H of Dubai from 16-18 January. While Khoo and the team have yet to commit its full participation in the Middle East Series, they are however, preparing to take on their second full season of the 2026 European Series.
The race in Sepang will prepare the team for its 2026 European Series campaign which is scheduled to kick of from 20-22 March with the Michelin 12H of Mugello in Italy. A total of five rounds will make up the European calendar which includes the Michelin 12H of Spa Francorchamps in Belgium from 17-19 April; the Michelin 12H of Paul Ricard in France from 5-7 June; the Michelin 12H of Nurburgring in Germany from 3-5 July; and the finale Michelin 24H of Barcelona in Spain from 18-20 September.
This year in only their first full season of the European Series, Viper Niza Racing Team completed the European leg placed 4th overall in the point standings of the GT3-AM Class. This was despite missing out on one round and retiring from another. Viper Niza Racing Team finished 6th overall, 4th in the GT3 class and 2nd in the GT3 AM class at the Michelin 12H of Spa Francorchamps in Belgium in April; was 8th overall finish, 3rd in the GT3-AM Class At the 12H of Paul Ricard in France in July; and ended the season in 11th in GT3 and 22nd overall at the 24H of Barcelona.
“The target will of course be to get into a top three overall standings in 2026. We believe we have the right package to get this done, and we believe we could have achieved this had we not missed the opening round (due to the vehicle not arriving in time for the race weekend) and the unfortunate retirement at 12H of Misano in Italy. Sepang will be one final race weekend shakedown for both the team and our Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO before preparing for Mugello in March and we hope that we are on pace, competitive and challenging for overall positions,” said Khoo.
Viper Niza Racing receives the full backing of Motul, Endless & Momentum Autoparts; IWC as its Official Watch Brand; and Jen Orchard Gateway Hotel in Singapore.
