In a thrilling finale at the Circuit De La Sarthe in Le Mans, France, Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira achieved a remarkable victory by winning his fourth GR GT Cup Malaysia title. The 26-year-old driver made an incredible comeback from the back of the field in the 30-minute race, solidifying his position as the most successful simulator racer in the series.
Taj Izrin Aiman accumulated 59 points across three Grand Final races, finishing 7 points ahead of this year’s runner-up, Chong Kai Chang, and the 2022 Champion, Muhammad Iqbal Suji, who secured third place with 50 points. All three drivers, including last year’s first runner-up Dhanesh Wigneswaran, were strong contenders for the RM25,000 grand prize. Ultimately, Taj’s consistency, perseverance, and a strategic gamble in the final race made the difference.
“I took a huge gamble and decided not to pit for a tyre change when it started raining after just two laps, and it paid off,” Taj Izrin Aiman explained. “I stayed out on full slicks and gained track position as others, including the race leaders, pitted for intermediate tyres, turning the race around for me.”
The Grand Final, held at the Sunway University Campus, boasted a total prize pool of RM120,500, making it the most lucrative simulator racing series in Malaysia.
Chong Kai Chang, who improved on his third-place finish from 2023, took second place and won RM15,000. He finished fourth in race 1, won race 2, and placed third in the final race, driving the GR010 Hybrid 21 prototype race car.
“My friends and I spent a lot of time practicing and experimenting with different strategies due to a game update enhancing the physics of the race cars,” Chong said. “I felt it was too risky to stay on slicks and opted for intermediate tyres, which shaped the race outcome.”
Muhammad Iqbal, who won race 1, was among the favorites but had to settle for third place, earning RM12,000. “I’m not satisfied with my result. I hesitated with the tyre change and made one pit stop too many,” said the Medical graduate, who finished fifth in the final race.
The top three drivers will now represent Malaysia in the GR GT Cup Asia, aiming for a chance to compete in the World Finals.
“In seven seasons of organizing the GR GT Cup Malaysia, the competition has grown exponentially intense,” said UMW Toyota Motor President Datuk Ravindra K. “Every year, the standards of driving and racecraft demonstrated by the finalists set an even higher benchmark.”
The top 10 drivers reached the Grand Final after outperforming over 1,000 participants in qualifiers starting in June. The event also featured a Campus Tour, introducing simulator racing to students across eight universities in Peninsular Malaysia, attracting 2,223 participants. Among the exhibition race participants was 14-year-old Ethen Low, who finished second representing St Michael’s Institution. The tour also discovered talents like Raja Amirul Syauqat, now part of the GAZOO Racing Young Driver Development Program, set to debut in the Vios Challenge Rookie Class.
This year’s GR GT Cup Malaysia also hosted exhibition races for Toyota GAZOO Racing rookie drivers and media members. A new Team Championship paired finalists with Campus Tour participants, allowing the latter to be coached by professionals.
For more information, log on to UMW Toyota Motor (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd website at www.toyota.com.my/gtcuomalaysia, facebook.com/tgrmy, youtube.com/tgrmalaysia, instagram.com/tgrmalaysia.
