Malaysia’s Viper Niza Racing kicked off its 2026 endurance racing campaign with an impressive performance at the opening round of the Michelin 24H Series European Series, securing fourth place in the GT3-AM class at the demanding 12 Hours of Mugello.

Starting 14th on a competitive grid of 28 cars, the all-Malaysian driver lineup of Douglas Khoo, Dominic Ang, and Melvin Moh delivered a resilient drive in their #65 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. By the end of the grueling 12-hour contest, the team had climbed to eighth in the GT3 category and 10th overall, completing a total of 344 laps.

The race weekend at Mugello Circuit was split into two segments, with a five-and-a-half-hour Race 1 on Saturday followed by a six-and-a-half-hour Race 2 on Sunday. Ang took on starting duties for both legs of the race, guiding the team through a relatively clean opening stint despite multiple Code 60 interruptions—a safety measure that limits speed and prohibits overtaking.

However, the team’s momentum was briefly halted during Race 1 when a puncture forced an unscheduled pit stop. Despite the setback, Viper Niza Racing recovered well to finish the first segment in 12th overall and fifth in class after completing 156 laps.

Race 2 proved even more challenging, with mixed weather conditions adding complexity to the already demanding endurance test. Another incident involving contact with a rival car resulted in a second puncture, again costing the team valuable time. Nevertheless, all three drivers maintained consistent pace and composure, with Moh ultimately taking the chequered flag to seal a commendable finish.

Reflecting on the result, Khoo acknowledged the near miss for a podium but remained optimistic about the season ahead. He emphasized the importance of accumulating points early and maintaining focus across the remaining rounds in pursuit of a strong championship finish.

The race victory overall went to the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II fielded by Sainteloc Junior Team, while ARC Bratislava claimed top honours in the GT3-AM class with their Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO.

Looking ahead, Viper Niza Racing will continue its 2026 campaign across all five rounds of the series, with the next challenge set at the iconic 12 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps from 17 to 19 April. Backed by partners including Motul, IWC, Momentum Autoparts, and SPARCO, the team is poised to build on this encouraging start as the season unfolds.