JPM Berjaya Hills Time Challenge 2009 – October 9th-11th

Come next weekend Malaysian motorsport fans will have another reason to rejoice – besides the highly anticipated 1Malaysia Formula One team – as another form of race will make its debut in our nation. For the first time in 30 years, a hill climb race will be taking place in South East Asian country; our country.

Slated for October 9th through 11th 2009 at the Berjaya Hills – Colmar Tropicale Resort in Bukit Tinggi, the JPM Berjaya Hills Time Challenge 2009 will see the largest gathering of modern exotic and supercars in Malaysia for 2009. And to rekindle the memories of yesteryear hill climb, there is also a category dedicated to classic cars.

The inaugural JPM Berjaya Hills Time Challenge 2009 is a safe Hill Climb meet for all supercar and performance car owners in a competition. Unlike conventional hill climbs, this event is not a race but instead time handicap challenge where the driver is able to pick his or her own speed category and the pre-determined timing for each run. It will be a test of car performance, drivers’ skill and capability. The driver who completes both the 8km uphill and downhill drive in a time that is closest to their declared time shall be declared as winner. Similar to a golf handicap system, the driver is to race against his or her own time handicap and not against others. Besdies the hill climb category, participants are also encouraged to participate in a slalom competition called the Forest-One Time Attack.

Major sponsors include CIMB Preferred, Berjaya Hills Colmar Tropicale, The Otomotif College (TOC), Royal Selangor International Sdn Bhd, Bolton Berhad, Silverlake Innovation Partners Sdn Bhd, Forest One Sdn Bhd, Sincere Watch Singapore, and Bina Warehouse Sdn Bhd. JPM Motorsport is affiliated with the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) and the Time Challenge Event is supported by Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini and Lotus clubs of Malaysia and Singapore.

Historically, unlike many countries in the region, motorsports have been an integral part of Malaysia since the 1920s with hill climbs held annually from 1927 to 1973 with participation of drivers from all over the region.

At the dawn of the 20th century, before the era of circuit racing, the grass roots of motor sports began with sprinting of automobiles on flat and uphill dirt roads. These forms of uphill sprints were commonly referred to as Hill Climbs in which a competitor who clocks the fastest time when driving uphill would be declared the winner. Most hill climb participants graduated and excelled in Grand Prix racing in their later years including Grand Prix icon Sir Stirling Moss.

Log on to www.jpmmotorsport.com.my for more info.