In the qualifying session for the season opener, the Asian Touring Car Super 1500Max Challenge has proven to be the right series for up and coming touring car drivers. It has also proven that drivers do not need a huge budget to be competitive and to put on great a great race.
The qualifying session, held today at Sepang International Circuit during the Asian Festival Of Speed saw the drivers in Division 1, the 1500Max spec cars, taking on the Super 16 cars in Division 2. Up against the more powerful Division 2 drivers, which has approximately 100hp more than the 1500Max spec cars, the competitors in Div 1 were less than 3seconds behind.
“Our goal of bringing an affordable touring car race series, which is competitive, fast paced and exciting, has been reached” said David Sonenscher, CEO of Motorsport Asia.
The 1500Max cars were well in the mix and had the ability to keep up with the pace of the faster and more powerful cars. Syafiq Ali of Proton Axle Racing team clocked the fastest time amongst the 1500Max runners and will start in seventh behind K. Perajun, Rhommell Singh, Indran Kanavaji, Kairul Zaman, Romie Razin and Mohd Akmal.
Team owner, Alex Yoong, is excited with what the series represents and is glad to be a part of the Series. “We are happy to be here. The regulation gives the right criteria to attract the various manufacturers. Although we only had two months to prepare the two cars, our crew did a fantastic job of putting things together”.
The first two rounds of the 1500Max will be held today, Sunday, at Sepang International Circuit along with five other Series, the Formula V6 Asia, Asian Touring Car Series, Formula BMW Pacific and two supporting races, Asia Supercar Challenge and the Formula Asia 2.0.
There are a few manufacturers already preparing their cars for the next rounds but were unable to participate in the opening rounds in Sepang this weekend.
Visit www.afos.com for further details.
