Kegani Racing Academy marked Malaysia’s National Day weekend in memorable fashion, overcoming a lengthy pit-lane repair and an eleven-minute setback to claim victory in the Super Compatto class at the MSF 111-lap Merdeka endurance race at Sepang International Circuit. Competing under the SKILLDRVN programme, the team entered the five-hour endurance event with a specially prepared Toyota Levin carrying race number #361. The car was shared by three drivers — Kegani Racing Academy founder Kenny Lee, Loke Yin Yi and Danish driver Daniel Storkersen.

The Levin itself added another layer of significance to the occasion. It is Lee’s own race car and the machine with which he founded Kegani, having first competed at Sepang back in 2007. After building a considerable endurance racing record and competing across the region over the years, its return to the Merdeka endurance race proved to be particularly fitting.

Strong Start from Fifth

The #361 Levin began the race from fifth in the Super Compatto class following qualifying, leaving the team with plenty of ground to recover during the rolling-start race. Loke Yin Yi was entrusted with the opening stint and immediately set about moving the car through the field. She climbed to fourth on the opening lap, third by Lap 3 and eventually reached second position by Lap 22.

Over her 24-lap stint, Loke recorded a best lap of 2:38.500, with a 2:40.193 median lap time. More importantly, she brought the car back to the pits cleanly and in a strong position for the next phase of the race. Kenny Lee then took over on Lap 24 and delivered the fastest sustained pace of the race for the team. Over 31 laps, he recorded the Levin’s overall best lap of 2:37.316, while maintaining a 2:38.754 median. By Lap 42, #361 had moved into the Super Compatto lead, establishing itself at the front and remaining there for the next 38 laps.

Storkersen Keeps the Levin in Front

Daniel Storkersen took over for the third stint on Lap 55. Although familiar with Sepang, this was his first time racing the Toyota Levin, but the Danish driver adapted quickly. Storkersen produced a 2:38.368 best lap — within a tenth of Lee’s benchmark — and maintained a 2:40.642 median across his clean laps. The car remained firmly in control of the class lead throughout his stint.

The team’s first two pit stops also proved crucial. Both were completed without incident and were quicker than those of any rival recorded during the race, giving #361 an important strategic advantage. Then, however, the race took a dramatic turn.

Clutch Failure Threatens Victory

On Lap 77, a leaking clutch hose began to cause problems, with the Levin losing approximately 20 seconds per lap over the following two tours as the clutch progressively deteriorated. Storkersen was faced with a rapidly worsening car but managed the situation calmly. Rather than stopping on circuit and potentially ending the team’s race altogether, he adapted his driving and brought the Levin back to the pit lane under its own power on Lap 79.

The resulting repair took approximately 11 minutes. Including the subsequent out-lap, the delay appeared on the timing sheet as a 13:54.949 lap. The setback dropped #361 from the class lead to fourth, seemingly putting victory out of reach. But the team was not finished.

Relentless Recovery

Kenny Lee climbed back into the Levin for the final stint and immediately restored the car’s earlier pace. His best lap of 2:37.393 and 2:39.676 median demonstrated that the Toyota still had the speed required to fight its way back into contention. The challenge was now to recover the positions lost during the lengthy repair while also managing fuel to the finish. The Levin’s pace advantage proved decisive.

During the closing stint, #361 was more than five seconds per lap quicker than both the #386 Honda Civic and #878 Suzuki Swift ahead, which had begun conserving fuel as the race entered its final stages. Third place was secured on Lap 87 when the #233 Suzuki Swift made its final stop. The Levin then moved into second and subsequently reclaimed the class lead by Lap 93 as the #386 Honda Civic made its final pit stop. In just 13 laps, Kegani had transformed an eleven-minute repair delay and fourth-place running into the race lead.

Fuel Management to the Chequered Flag

Once back in front, the focus shifted from outright pace to survival. With no desire to risk another pit stop, Lee progressively reduced his pace, running in the 2:41s and 2:42s rather than the 2:39s the Levin had demonstrated earlier. The objective was simple: preserve enough fuel to reach the chequered flag.

The #233 Suzuki remained the fastest car on track during the closing stages, regularly producing 2:35s and 2:36s lap times and gaining approximately a second per lap on the Levin. However, with its final stop completed relatively late in the race, there simply were not enough laps remaining for the Suzuki to recover the deficit. After five hours and eight minutes of racing, the #361 Toyota Levin crossed the finish line having completed 108 laps — one more than any other car in the Super Compatto class — to secure the class victory.

A Victory Built on Consistency

While the dramatic recovery provided the headline, Kegani Racing Academy’s victory was ultimately built on consistency across every aspect of its endurance campaign. The three drivers finished their respective stints within just 2.3 seconds of one another in terms of median lap time, demonstrating the consistency required to keep the car competitive throughout a five-hour endurance race.

The pit crew also delivered when it mattered, with the first two scheduled stops among the quickest in the class. Most importantly, Storkersen’s ability to bring the damaged Levin back to the pits without stopping on circuit kept the team’s victory hopes alive. From fifth on the grid, through a class-leading run, an eleven-minute repair and a subsequent charge back to the front, the #361 Levin ultimately won by a full lap.

For a car that first raced at Sepang nearly two decades ago, it was a fitting National Day celebration — and another memorable chapter in the history of both the Toyota Levin and Kegani Racing Academy. Kegani Racing Academy extended its appreciation to the sponsors supporting the Levin’s 111-lap endurance campaign, including EXEDY, PROFIMAX, M POWER BATTERY, RACINGLAB, U PLY, TM WORKS, ZX1, TUVTEC POWER DEPARTMENT and KJ BRAKE.

The team also thanked its technical partners, crew, media partners and supporters whose continued contribution made the Super Compatto victory possible. The result once again underlined a fundamental truth of endurance racing: victories are rarely decided by outright pace alone. At Sepang, it was Kegani’s combination of driver consistency, efficient pit work, mechanical resilience and measured race strategy that ultimately carried #361 to the top step of the class.