We at Zerotohundred are always looking for a way to boost up the local motorsports scene. Other than through our TIMETOATTACK that gathers the top time killers from across the country and also across the causeway, we also give out support for teams participating in local races. With the Sepang 1000km giving opportunities for local talents to experience the thrills and spills of endurance racing, we were more than proud to sponsor Team 28 to their journey to victory in one of the famous endurance racing in Malaysia.
Joining us for a short interview from Team 28 are the first two drivers that had done their stint on the earlier part of the day, Desmond Khoo and Jon Teo Tatt.
How is the race going so far for the team?
Desmond: I think we are pacing ourselves. We are not the front runners; we did not qualify in the front. There are a lot of competitive teams and powerful cars around. But the thing is that there are more powerful cars starting to face problems; it is an endurance race, so anything could happen. It is still too early to tell the outcome of the race, but we should be doing ok until the end of the race.
I understand that you have done the first stint, how was the first hours on the track in the car?
Desmond: It was very hot, very humid and lots of fearless fighters outside; which is fun because that is what racing is all about.
Have you done your stint?
Jon Teo Tatt: Yes, I have just finished mine. I did the second stint.
How was the car running after taking over from the first driver?
Jon Teo Tatt: It was very good; we have pace but not speed. I was trying to pace myself to catch up with the cars ahead. The fastest car of course has a better run than us, but the car feels strong, stable and easy to drive, which is also the most important thing for endurance racing.
Which car on the field that you would classify as the main rival?
Jon Teo Tatt: That would be the number 88 Gen-2. This car actually handles pretty good; I was in the corners pulling away from the Honda Jazz, but coming out from the corner it just left us in a flash.
You mentioned earlier that the car was built to last; could you share with us some details about the car?
Jon Teo Tatt: The car is actually from Hokkaido. This year is actually its first debut run, where after this it will be in MRC or Malaysian Rally Championship. The car was built strongly, and the engine is from a rally spec.
What strategy that your team is implementing for this challenging endurance run?
Desmond: Drive smooth, stay out of trouble and keep the pace running. We could still overtake the slower cars on the track, but this year has some pretty strong teams like the Honda factory team and Proton’s R3. We do our best and hope for the best because we want to finish in the top five if we could, and even better if we could make it to the top three. But then again, it is still too early to tell and we will see how it goes.
And like what endurance drivers prefer, I’m guessing that you are looking forward for the night stint?
Desmond: Oh, yes. That is where we will really gun it all the way!
Is there anything that both of you would like to add?
We would like to thank our sponsors; RCS Suspensions from Malaysia, the team owner Ross Rogers, Moty oils, One communications, Elepoint Solutions and of course Zerotohundred.com.
As Sepang International Circuit goes into the darkness, the race had taken its toll on a number of cars which either suffered from the intense heat or unexpected mechanical failure. Only the strong ones remain on the circuit, which one of them is Team 28’s speedy Suzuki Swift. We would like to wish them all the luck in finishing the race and to actually stand on the podium as one of the best!
