Veteran racer Faidzil Alang delivered another masterclass in endurance racing, securing his second consecutive overall victory in the 2026 MSF Merdeka 111-Lap Race at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Faidzil, together with Super Series Limited debutants Muhamad Nurazmi and Arif Hanafiah, controlled the race from the very beginning in the #148 Papaya Autohaus Mercedes-Benz A45. The trio started from pole, recorded the fastest lap of the race at 2:27.462, and maintained their advantage all the way to the chequered flag.
Completing all 111 laps of the 5.534km circuit, the Mercedes-Benz A45 crossed the finish line almost 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled race duration, securing both overall honours and victory in the Super Series Limited class. Finishing second overall were Syahrizal Jamaluddin and Muhammad Hasif in a Toyota Yaris, 1 minute 44.184 seconds behind the winners. Kegani Racing Academy completed the overall podium with Kenny Lee, Loke Yin Yi and Daniel Storkensen, while also taking victory in the Super Compatto class with their Toyota Levin.
For Faidzil, the victory was the product of experience, preparation and disciplined driving rather than simply outright pace. The team made four pitstops during the race, knowing that they would need to stop more frequently than some of their rivals. Instead of chasing an aggressive strategy, the drivers focused on maintaining a competitive and consistent pace while carefully managing the Mercedes-Benz. Faidzil said the team’s familiarity with the A45 had also provided valuable data for preparing the car’s setup, giving the trio confidence that they could make it to the finish.
The Kegani Racing Academy crew, meanwhile, produced one of the weekend’s strongest recoveries. Despite dropping as low as fifth during the race and losing approximately 11 minutes while replacing a damaged clutch hose, the team fought its way back to third overall and reclaimed the Super Compatto class lead with just eight laps remaining. The result was particularly significant for the team as its Toyota Levin had not competed since 2024. Kegani Racing Academy also had to overcome a gearbox issue just days before the event, making its podium finish an impressive comeback.
Team Principal and lead driver Kenny Lee credited the team’s preparation and execution, noting that the older Toyota had once again demonstrated its ability to compete against much newer machinery. The team adopted a three-stop strategy to maximise driving stints, allowing it to build a comfortable class advantage before the clutch hose failure forced an extended repair stop. Once the car returned to the track, Lee pushed hard to recover the lost ground and eventually retook the class lead with eight laps to go.
The ninth edition of the MSF Merdeka 111-Lap Race once again served as the centrepiece of Malaysia’s grassroots endurance racing calendar, traditionally taking place around the country’s Hari Merdeka celebrations. This year’s event attracted almost 200 racing machines and around 300 competitors across four- and two-wheel categories. The headline 111-lap race featured 63 cars, competing across eight classes: Super Series Limited, EXN GT86 x BRZ Racing Cup, Super Compatto, Standard Production, Standard Production MAX, Super Production, SWX and K-Series Battle.
The wider Merdeka Race weekend also featured the 75-minute Merdeka 75 Cup, which attracted 61 cars across Saga Cup, MyVi Cup, CamPro Cup and Tuner Production classes. The programme was further expanded by the 13-car SKILLDRVN One Make Race Series, the 15-bike MotoMSF Merdeka 33-Lap Endurance Race and the nine-bike American V-Twin Cup by Prodigy Racecraft.
On two wheels, Dhiraj Tan and Sankaran Shamugam emerged victorious in the MotoMSF Merdeka 33-Lap Endurance Race, taking their 600cc Supersport machine to the chequered flag around a minute ahead of their closest challengers. Last year’s winner Mohammad Fahmi Abdul Wahaf and teammate Mohd Radzi Omar finished second on their Ducatis, while Tony Ng Wei Shyang and Ke Huanni completed the podium on Honda CBR600RR Supersport machines.
The race also featured the return of former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and CEV Moto3 Series rider Amirul Hafiq Azmi, who came back to competition after focusing on coaching. Partnering Carmen Lee, Amirul was unfortunately later disqualified following a sporting infringement involving refuelling in the pitlane.
Beyond the individual results, the event once again highlighted the role of the MSF Merdeka Race as an important platform for Malaysian grassroots motorsport. With an increasingly diverse field that included regional and international competitors, the event continues to provide an accessible but demanding environment for experienced racers and emerging talent alike. MSF Principal Adian Yein Khalid said the organisation remained grateful to the teams, drivers, partners and sponsors whose continued support has helped establish the Merdeka 111-Lap Race as one of the country’s most anticipated grassroots racing events.
