Malaysia will be looking to add another chapter to its growing esports racing success story when four of the country’s top virtual racing talents take on the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship (APMC) 2026 in Pattaya, Thailand, from 23 to 25 October. Representing the nation at the Bira Circuit, Nabil Azlan, Iqbal Suji, Raja Amirul Syauqat and 16-year-old Ethen Low will compete in the Assetto Corsa and iRacing categories, taking on some of the region’s finest esports racers in a bid to bring home more medals for Malaysia.
The four-man squad secured their places after finishing among the top two competitors in their respective national qualifying competitions, sanctioned by the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM). Together, they bring a combination of championship-winning form, international experience and youthful ambition to the regional stage.
At 24, Nabil Azlan will be one of Malaysia’s key contenders, returning to APMC with unfinished business after claiming silver in the iRacing category at the 2025 edition. This time, however, Nabil will switch gears and compete in Assetto Corsa, armed with an impressive run of results. He recently won the Esport Category at the 2026 MAM Festival of Speed and is also the reigning 2025 Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia e-Racing Pro Class Champion.
With a medal already under his belt and another championship-winning season behind him, Nabil will be aiming to turn his experience into gold as he takes on a different virtual racing challenge. Joining him in Assetto Corsa is 28-year-old Iqbal Suji, whose international experience should prove valuable against the region’s best. Iqbal reached the final of the 2023 Gran Turismo World Series Nations Cup and competed in the Asia Pacific Final of the FIA Rally Star programme in the same year. Making his APMC debut, Iqbal will have the opportunity to put that experience to the test against a new field of competitors, with Malaysia counting on his ability to deliver under pressure.
Malaysia’s iRacing campaign will be led by Raja Amirul Syauqat, who arrives in Thailand fresh from winning the 2026 MAM eRacing GP National Championship. The 22-year-old has already demonstrated his ability to rise above the domestic competition, and APMC 2026 represents his next opportunity to prove himself on the international stage. Making his championship debut, Raja Syauqat will be hoping to carry his winning momentum into Pattaya and challenge for a place on the podium.
He will be joined by Ethen Low, one of the youngest members of Malaysia’s esports racing contingent. At just 16, the Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia Rookie is already making waves in the local sim racing scene. Ethen currently leads the Rookies Championship and recently took victory in the Young Dreamers category at the Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge Malaysia 2026.
His selection for APMC marks another important step in his rapidly developing career. While he will face opponents with considerably more international experience, his recent results suggest that the teenager has plenty of potential to make his presence felt. For Ethen, the event will be a valuable opportunity to gain experience against established competitors, while also showing that age is no barrier to competing at a high level in virtual motorsport.
Malaysia’s participation in APMC 2026 is supported by Esports Integrated (ESI) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KCS) through the Malaysia Esports Accelerator Program (MEAP). The national squad will also be carrying the weight of an increasingly impressive record in the discipline. Since the championship’s inaugural edition in 2023, Malaysian drivers have secured gold medals in both the individual and team esports categories, establishing the country as a serious contender in the regional competition. With Nabil bringing previous APMC medal-winning experience, Iqbal contributing international pedigree, Raja Syauqat arriving as a national champion and Ethen representing the next generation of sim racing talent, Malaysia has a well-rounded line-up for this year’s challenge.
Hosted by the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand (RAAT), APMC 2026 is expected to bring together between 250 and 500 competitors from 24 nations, with athletes competing across six motorsport disciplines for gold, silver and bronze medals. The championship provides a platform for national motorsport authorities across the Asia-Pacific region to showcase their athletes and compete for international honours.
