Malaysia will be looking to make full use of its home-ground advantage when it hosts the 2026 TGR Asia Esport GT Championship on 14 and 15 November at Jiospace, a lifestyle and entertainment hub in Petaling Jaya. Organised by Toyota Motor Asia (TMA), the ninth edition of the regional competition will bring together some of Southeast Asia’s finest simulator racers, with teams representing Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. Competing on Sony PlayStation’s Gran Turismo 7 platform, participants will battle for both individual honours and the overall team championship.

Leading Malaysia’s campaign will be a formidable trio comprising Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira, Nabil Azlan and Ethen Low, with each bringing a different set of achievements and experience to the competition. At the forefront is Taj Izrin Aiman, who arrives with an impressive résumé that includes an Asian Games gold medal, the 2024 TGR Asia Championship title and four TGR Malaysia eRacing championships. The 27-year-old will also be making his seventh appearance representing Malaysia at the regional event.

Despite his recent success on the international stage, Taj Izrin Aiman is approaching the upcoming championship with a measured mindset, recognising the level of competition awaiting him. His ambition, however, is clear: reclaim the individual title he secured in 2024 while helping Malaysia capture the overall team championship.

Joining him is Nabil Azlan, who will be looking to carry his recent success at the Asia Pacific Motorsports Championship into his first TGR Asia Championship campaign as a gold medallist. The 24-year-old is also the reigning 2025 TGR Malaysia eRacing Pro champion and recipient of the E-Motorsport Competitor of the Year award. His experience extends beyond virtual racing, having successfully transitioned into real-world motorsport through UMW Toyota Motor’s support.

Nabil went on to claim both the Rookie and Sporting Class titles in the Vios Challenge, making his return to simulator racing with Toyota another significant milestone in his motorsport journey. This time, he hopes to add a regional championship title to his growing list of achievements. Completing the Malaysian line-up is 16-year-old Ethen Low, who will be making just his second international appearance for the country.

Although his recent Asia Pacific Motorsports Championship campaign ended at the semi-final stage, Low has already demonstrated considerable potential. He is the 2025 TGR Malaysia eRacing Junior champion and is currently part of the GAZOO Racing-UMW Toyota Motor Young Talent Development Program. Beyond simulator racing, Low is also competing in the 2026 Vios Challenge as a Rookie driver. Despite his age, he has already made a strong impression in the real-world racing series, currently sharing the lead in the Rookie Class with just two races remaining. For Low, the opportunity to represent Malaysia and UMW Toyota Motor on an international stage is one he intends to make the most of, particularly against a field featuring more experienced competitors.

The 2026 championship also marks another evolution for Toyota’s regional simulator racing programme, which first began in 2018 as the GR Velocity Esports Championship. The competition was subsequently renamed the Toyota GR Supra GT Cup between 2019 and 2020, before becoming the GR GT Cup Asia Championship in 2021. Now entering its ninth consecutive year, it takes on a new identity as the TGR Asia Esport GT Championship.

Beyond determining the region’s best simulator racers, the competition serves as a platform for identifying and developing emerging esports motorsport talent. Previous champions have gone on to represent Asia at the World Final, providing competitors with a potential pathway to international recognition. For this year’s individual final, drivers will take on a 25-minute race at the iconic Fuji Speedway, piloting a Super Formula machine. The programme will also feature an Esports Team Race, where competitors will drive the GR Supra Racing Concept in a 20-minute contest along the Grand Valley Highway – 1.

Fans can follow the latest updates through Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels, or visit the official website at www.toyota.com.my/en/tgrmalaysia for more information.