It’s the 2nd year now that Sepang has been working with Pacific Project Management, or PPM to mobilize Malaysia’s or in fact, South East Asia’s greatest 12 hour endurance race – The MMER (Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race) also known as the Sepang 12 Hour. This upcoming 2014 edition is set to commence next month’s end (August 28-30) and marks the MMER’s 15th installment!
The MMER has kept participants and visitors guessing year after year the time of day in which the race would start. This would be the difference between starting midnight while ending at midday or vice versa. For this year at least, PPM and Sepang has pre-determined the race to start midday 1200hrs August 30th till midnight 0000hrs August 31st.
I for one am thrilled about the set schedule as yours truly will representing Zerotohundred.com and Team Wing Hin Motorsports in the MMER this year! Support us in Wing Hin’s Toyota 86 car #88 alongside car #86 on the grid next month!
We will be racing within the Touring Production Class and will be flanked by 3 other classes including the GT Open Class, GT Cup and the Sport Production, totaling 4 competitive classes. PPM and Sepang boasts a highly receptive year for MMER this year and are confident to rake in over 40 cars in entries.
SIC (Sepang International Circuit) CEO Dato’ Razlan Razali says, “Thanks to Ian Geekie (Director of PPM) and his team at PPM, we had wooed in some big international teams and some big names competing last year including celebrity racer like Aaron Kwok. And, they had done that successfully within such a limited time.
Now, with a year of experience and we worked immediately after the conclusion of last year’s event, I am confident that we can expect an even more exciting MMER, which celebrates its 15th edition this year,” at the MMER launch yesterday at Pullman Hotel Putrajaya
The MMER / Sepang 12 Hour being Malaysia’s race of the year also welcomes the Asia Classic Car Challenge as part of the Endurance Race’s sub segment as a yearly ritual. Like the main battle, this sub segment is a war of retro classics.
Current Confirmed Entries include
Clearwater Racing Team, the defending champion will enter two Ferrari 458 Italia GT3s, driven by Singaporean Mok Weng Sun, partnering Malaysia’s up and coming GT driver Alif Hamdan and Ferrari factory GT driver Gianmaria Bruni, a multiple Le Mans champion in the GTE-Pro class.
Australian Craig Baird to partner regular GT3 Asia partner Richard Wee and supported by Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA) champion and one of Asia’s best GT drivers, Keita Sawa.
Other firmed international teams within the GT Class are Craft-Bamboo Racing, Absolute Racing and Audi Sport Australia, plus a barrage of Lamborghinis and Porsches. The GT Cup benefits from an increase in entries through Audi LMS Cup teams, with examples such as B-Quick Racing and Absolute Racing, which are likely to encounter strong opposition from the Porsches and Ferraris for class honours.
Touring Production Class
The Touring Production class has always been the most competitive. Seeing strong participation numbers this year, loyal teams continue to battle in the 12 hour race. Team Wing Hin Motorsports will yet again field 2 Toyota 86s car #86 driven by Malaysians Kenny Lee, William Ho and Australian Chris O Shannessey while Car #86 will be piloted by Japanese Tomoya Kato and yours truly Tom Goh from Zerotohundred.com. Singapore based ST Powered is likely to enter more than 2 Civic FD2Rs this year in full yellow-themed suit.
GT Class
Naza Nexus Racing will enter an All-Malaysian team this year. Winners of the 2011 and 2012 Sport production classes and just missing out on 3rd place in the GT3 class last year, Nexus Racing will be running star Malaysian drivers Adrian D’Silva, Dominic Ang and Melvin Moh.
The Naza Nexus Racing team is one of the most experienced and successful line-ups with Dominic Ang winning of the MMER overall in 2011 and 2012 with Adrian D’Silva winning in Sport Production in 2011 and 2012, and a fourth place in the GT3 class last year, with Melvin Moh overall 2nd in 2012.
MMER PRACTICE SESSIONS
For this year’s MMER, competitors will have their free practice session on Thursday, August 28 including a special session of compulsory night practice. Qualifying will be conducted on the following day on August 29 with the race to be flagged off on Saturday, August 30 at noon.
VISITING MMER / SEPANG 12 HOUR
Fans are invited to celebrate their Merdeka this year with the biggest endurance race in South East Asia, the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race. Grandstand are opened for public with no admission fee. While for those who wants a wholesome experience, the paddock pass is sold at RM100 or grab the Season Paddock Pass only at an additional RM60 at RM160 and get access to some of the best national races in Sepang including the MMER.
THE COMPETING CLASSES
GT Class
- FIA Appendix J, Article 257A: GT (GT3 cars)
- Japan Automobile Federation (“JAF”): Super Taikyu Cars (ST1).
GTC Class
Cars built by manufactures specifically for one make race categories such as Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Ferrari Challenge, Maserati Trofeo, Renault Megane Trophy Endurance, Porsche Carrera Cup and Audi R8 LMS Cup.
Sports Production
- SRO: GT4 Cars (All cars complying with SRO Regulations).
- FIA Article 277: Non FIA Homologated Sports Cars 1900cc and above (200 units minimum annual production).
- JAF: Super Taikyu Cars (ST3).
- Sports Cars with Diesel Engine above 1900cc.
Touring Production
- FIA Article 254: Group N Cars 1900cc and above.
- FIA Article 255: Group A Cars 1900cc and above.
- FIA Article 277: Non FIA Homologated Touring Cars 1900cc to 4500cc (2,500 minimum annual production).
- JAF Super Taikyu Cars (ST2 & ST4 class)
- Touring/Saloon Cars with Diesel Engine above 1900cc.vi) Production Touring/Saloon Cars with petrol turbo engine smaller than 1600cc.
