Sepang, 7th September 2008 – Grass Racing Autosports or GRA held their Autocross Championships for the third time around this year. This year’s GRA races are sponsored by Red Line Synthetic Oils, Meguiar’s Detailing Products, Vanli Genuine Parts and Gophers GPS Navigation System. GRA’s initiative set out 1 year ago is paying off with more enthusiasts joining its races every round.
GRA moved the race to Sepang International F1 Circuit Car Park. This round with the absence of Ivan Khong with his red Subaru Impreza, Andy Kow in a similar Subaru Impreza set the fastest time of the day and took 1st Overall honours. The race is supported and sanctioned by Motorsports Association of Malaysia
It was a hot and sunny day for the Sepang Car Park circuit, Andy Kow was uncatchable in his green Subaru Impreza. He now leads the GRA Autocross Championships. Second fastest of the day went to Team Red Line Jason Foo in his Proton Satria 1800cc with Ray Leong in his Nissan 200sx with a surprising 3rd Overall.
It was a disastrous day for last year’s runner-up in the championship, Mickey Teoh again. Driving his neatly styled Toyota MR2 RWD Turbo, he suffered mechanical failures and had to retire the MR2. Though suffering from 3 rounds of mechanical failures, Mickey won the ‘Bling-Bling Award’ for having the most outstanding car of the day with his MRS having the Cars movie livery. Charlene Khoo in her IAL Perodua Kelisa won the Best Female Award for posting the fastest time of the day for the category.
In Grass Class A Up to 1300cc, Wong Kang Yoon aka as Kaitospeed took first spot in his Proton Iswara Aeroback. In 2nd and 3rd spot, went to Jonathan Tan in a Myvi and Charlene Khoo respectively. In Grass Class B 1300cc-1600cc, 1st place went to Garick Goh in a Proton Satria 1600cc. Charlie Ling in his Toyota Levin 1600cc, managed a 2nd spot with Julian Foo in a close 3rd in a borrowed Proton Satria of Garick’s. In Class AA Automatic Cars up to 1600cc, William Lim in a Suzuki Swift stormed to first place again, with Edison Wong in a Toyota Vios coming in 2nd and An Hee Han in a Perodua Kelisa in 3rd. Edison returning after a one year absence, pushed his car to the limits by having a slight divider rub on the front left of his car. However the car was still able to continue only with a broken front lamp. In Class AB Automatic Cars up to 2500cc, Victor Lim piloting a Ford Lynx RS managed to clinch victory from Chee Tun Poey in a Toyota Altis with Jack Tan in his Honda Prelude coming in 3rd.
In the afternoon, the Pro-Grass drivers took centre stage. In Class OA up tp 1300cc, Kenneth Chiew from Team Meguiar’s only managed a 3rd spot this round with Chan.K and Julian Pang from Team Red Line coming in 1st and 2nd respectively in a borrowed Perodua Kelisa. In Class OB 1300cc-1600cc, Clement Yeo from Team Meguiar’s Honda Civic EK4 finally broke the jinx by taking 1st place after 2 rounds of non-1st finishes. Coming in 2nd was Ho Wai Kok in a Proton Wira 1600cc after a long absence from the scene. He was originally from Team All Stars that won every single team event in past autocrossing events comprising of Ian and Ivan Khong. 3rd spot went to Maharith B. Mahat, he could manage the last podium position this round, and would be looking to emulate his win in Round 2 in the next round.
For Class OC 1601cc-2000cc, last year’s Novice Champion, Jason Foo took 1st position again, convincingly in his decked out Proton Satria representing Team Red Line Oils. 2nd place went to Julian Pang from Team Red Line in a Proton Wira 1800cc. 3rd place fell to Chan. K from Team Red Line in a borrowed Proton Wira from Julian Pang. Team Red Line swept all 3 podium spots in Class OC. Mitch Chong managed only a 4th place this round as he suffered a curb invitation on the last sector of the course. He managed to repair and replace the bent arm, but his car was not behaving to his liking after that incident. In the Novice OC class, Mitch Chong still took 1st with Adrian Tan in a Proton Putra and Ken Choong also in a Proton Putra coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In Class OD Beyond 2000cc, Andy Kow took top honours in his Subaru Impreza WRX 4WD. Following closely in 2nd spot was Ray Leong in a Nissan 200sx, and 3rd went to Teoh Joe Meng in a Proton PERT 4WD. Ray Leong and Teoh Joe Meng, were trying very hard to catch Andy but he was just too quick in his Subaru.
Ian Khong ambassador for GRA said, ‘We moved to Sepang to add variety for the competitors to pit their skills on a fast circuit. Everyone enjoyed themselves ‘.
Mr. Howard Goh from Red Line Oils commented, ‘ We are very happy today sweeping all top positions in the OC Class. We hope to repeat it all the way to the end this year’.
Meguiar’s Manager Mr. Johan Wong said, ‘ GRA is moving ahead, we can see more newcomers into the sports. We hope to see it grow further‘.
Mr. C.K.Lim from Vanli Group Of Companies said, ‘This time around GRA is really getting faster and faster. It is good to see more newcomers here today ‘.
The race was graced with the Race Queens, and ended around 5pm. The next round would be held in October, thus look out for it in www.grassracingautosports.com for more details.
Report by: GRA Autosports
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