Motorsports

Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Debuts At Malaysian Super Series

BY Krado Low

The Malaysian Super Series (MSS) returns this weekend with the one-make Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series makes its debut at the Sepang International Circuit.

Sepang will be the fourth stop over after two races in Shanghai and Zhuhai and it promises a whole level of excitement with 458 Challenge. The series is now in its nineteenth year and, in addition to the usual three series – Italy, Europe and North America – for this year, there is another for those owners based in the Asia Pacific region, who will contest in the five-race series.

Racers from China, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and South Korea will converge in Sepang in hopes of winning the last race of the series in Asia. Over twenty competitors at the wheel of the 458 Challenge will run in two separate classifications of Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell.

“This is the first time we are racing in Sepang. We came here because the Sepang track is one of the best in Asia and we want to provide only the best to our drivers,” said Head of Corse Clienti Ferrari Asia Region, Andrea Reggiani. “Among the interesting features of the Ferrari Challenge is the cars which are designed specifically for racing, incorporating a technology from Ferrari Experience in F1.”

This weekend will also sees two-wheeled action as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Malaysian MotoGP support race weekend on 21-23 October. All the riders will get their chance to share the limelight on MotoGP as they take to the stage a few hours before their heroes, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi do battle in the premier class of the MotoGP.

In the GT class for cars, the absence of Sri Lankan speed demon, Dilantha Malaguwa who is in Japan for the Asian GT will be capitalized by defending champion, Mok Weng Sun from Singapore in hopes of closing the gap on his closest rival and runaway leader this year. The MSS kicks off this Saturday with the qualifying sessions at 1.40 pm, while the program for race day begins at 8.45 am on Sunday.