SEPANG, Malaysia – Malaysian grassroots motorsport has received another boost ahead of Round 3 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia Vios Challenge, with Toyota dealers Unihub Auto Sdn Bhd and DMW 1 Automobile becoming the first dealer-backed team to recruit a developmental driver directly from an independent racing academy.
Competing as the Unihub & DMW 1 Motorsport Team, the outfit has partnered with Kegani Racing Academy (KRA) to field two-time SKILLDRVN One Make Race (OMR) Series champion Loke Yin Yi in the highly competitive Sporting Class at this weekend’s championship round at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit.
The initiative represents a significant milestone for grassroots motorsport in Malaysia, creating an alternative pathway for aspiring racers to progress from academy racing into one of the country’s premier one-make championships.
“Our partnership with KRA is about opening more doors for talented drivers beyond the existing motorsport ecosystem,” said Brandon Lee, Assistant General Manager of Unihub Auto Sdn Bhd.
“This is only our second season competing in the Vios Challenge, and while the Sporting Class is one of the toughest categories in the championship, we believe KRA’s proven ability to develop disciplined and competitive drivers will allow us to build a strong foundation for the future.”
Based in Puchong, Selangor, Unihub Auto has joined forces with Kudat-based Sabah dealer DMW 1 Automobile to establish a long-term motorsport programme that extends beyond racing results.
The team hopes to become a recognised platform for nurturing future Malaysian racing talent while reinforcing the dealer network’s involvement in the country’s growing motorsport landscape.
Lee said the collaboration also aligns closely with UMW Toyota Motor’s long-standing commitment to motorsport development through the Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia programme.
“Toyota’s Young Talent Development Programme has already proven how effective structured driver development can be. We hope this initiative complements that effort by providing another progression route for talented racers who emerge from grassroots championships.”
Beyond competition, Lee believes participation in the Vios Challenge has also strengthened the dealerships internally.
“Motorsport has become more than just racing. It has strengthened our team culture, enhanced our brand image and reinforced customer confidence in the way we do business.”
A Rapid Rise Through the Racing Ranks
Although this will be Loke’s debut in the third-generation Toyota Vios race car, she is far from inexperienced.
Earlier this season, she claimed four podium finishes in the Vios Classic Challenge, including one victory and three runner-up finishes while sharing driving duties with KRA founder and mentor Kenny Lee.
The results continue an impressive rise that has seen Loke become the first driver to win consecutive overall titles in the SKILLDRVN One Make Race Series in 2024 and 2025.
She has since graduated into the new SKILLDRVN Swift Professional Series with Ultra Racing Team, where she currently leads the championship after winning both races held so far this season.
Her development has also extended overseas, becoming the only foreign driver to compete in Japan’s Kyojo Vita Championship, where she secured an impressive fourth-place finish earlier this year.
Creating a Sustainable Development Ladder
For Kegani Racing Academy, the partnership validates years of work in establishing an affordable and structured grassroots racing programme.
KRA Principal and Chief Coach Kenny Lee described the collaboration as another important step in creating a complete development pathway for aspiring Malaysian drivers.
“This partnership with Unihub Auto marks another important milestone in KRA’s vision to develop young racing talent,” he said.
“Every racing driver needs progression, and the Toyota GAZOO Racing Vios Challenge provides exactly the type of competitive environment our graduates need to continue developing.”
Lee, himself a former Super Sporting Class competitor in the Vios Challenge, hopes the collaboration becomes the first of many between Toyota dealer teams and grassroots racing programmes.
“I sincerely hope this opens the door for more dealer teams to recognise the potential of drivers coming through the SKILLDRVN programme.”
Building Grassroots Motorsport
Established in 2023, KRA’s SKILLDRVN One Make Race Series was created to lower the barriers to entry into circuit racing.
Using the Suzuki Swift ZC31 under tightly controlled technical regulations, the championship focuses on affordable competition, equal machinery and driver development through sportsmanship and racecraft rather than budgets.
The academy has since expanded its programme with the introduction of the SKILLDRVN Swift Professional Series, allowing companies to field race teams while providing graduates with another competitive step before progressing into national championships.
KRA has also begun expanding internationally through KRA Japan, established in collaboration with Fujii Engineering. The programme aims to expose Malaysian drivers to Japanese motorsport culture, engineering standards and racing ethics while creating opportunities for driver exchange between both countries.
For the Unihub & DMW 1 Motorsport Team, however, this weekend’s Vios Challenge marks the beginning of a broader ambition—to prove that Malaysia’s next generation of racing talent can emerge not only through factory programmes, but also through grassroots academies committed to developing drivers from the ground up.
