The 5th edition of the Vios Enduro Cup at the recent Sepang 1000km Endurance Race delivered a thrilling finale that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last corner. What unfolded was a true testament to the unpredictable nature of endurance racing, with victory hanging in the balance until the final moments.

Kegani Racing Academy’s Kenny Lee and Loke Yin Yee went head-to-head with the formidable Axle Sports trio of Alister Yoong, Aman Nagdev, and Genevieve Ooi throughout the eight-hour race. Lee had been leading the class in the closing laps but was forced into an unscheduled pitstop and driver change, handing the lead back to the dominant #61 Axle Sports car.

In a dramatic twist, Loke Yin Yee, a two-time SkillDrvn champion, reclaimed the lead on the very last lap after the Axle Sports car stalled at the final corner. She surged past and crossed the chequered flag first, sealing a heart-stopping victory.

“Endurance racing is unpredictable, even in the last lap. The safety car disrupted our strategy, and I had to pit for a driver change, giving up the lead. Loke took over, and when the lead car stalled at turn 15, she seized the moment,” recounted Lee, a veteran of the S1K series since 2009 and a former overall winner. “It was strategy that ultimately won the race for us.”

Despite a challenging qualifying session that left them three seconds off the fastest pace, the Kegani duo relied on consistent driving and strategic planning to stay competitive. “The Vios cars up front were extremely quick, and conditions tested our pace, but we trusted our strategy throughout,” Lee added.

Kegani Racing Academy took home RM10,000 for the win, while Axle Sports’ team earned RM8,000. The Thai duo Surasak Dakeng and Varunchit Wattanathakun of RUK Team Nexter PMC52 secured third place and RM6,000.

This year’s Vios Enduro Cup featured a rare endurance format, bringing together all three generations of Vios Challenge race cars. Thirteen cars and 38 drivers from Malaysia, India, Thailand, Japan, and Norway competed over 1,000km, demonstrating remarkable international diversity. Ten drivers were drawn directly from the 2025 Vios Challenge one-make series, highlighting the depth of emerging talent in the region.

The endurance format demanded precise team coordination, driver swaps every 75 minutes, and strategic execution over raw speed alone—challenging teams to balance pace, consistency, and stamina across the grueling eight hours.

For many, the event also served as an important preparation for the final round of the 2025/26 Vios Challenge season in January 2026, providing teams with valuable experience and an opportunity to fine-tune their strategies.

The 5th Vios Enduro Cup will be remembered as a race where perseverance, planning, and a touch of luck converged in a last-lap spectacle worthy of endurance racing lore.