Season 5 of Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Challenge wraps up: 3.1m viewers in finale, 4 new champions

• Brothers Naquib and Nabil Azlan wins the Sporting and Rookie Classes respectively
• Nabil Ahmad claims Promotional Class crown
• Hayden Haikal the new Super Sporting Class champion

3.1 million online viewers and race fans, which Toyota says is a record-high, tuned in to watch the finale of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Challenge race weekend.

Season 5 crowned four new champions in four classes of racing: the Super Sporting Class for professionals; the Sporting Class for amateurs; the Rookie Class for young drivers; and the Promotional Class for celebrities.

In the Super Sporting Class, Prima Pearl TD Racing’s Mitchell Cheah kept his cool to finish 7.3 seconds ahead of Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang in what was a very intensely contested 20-lap race. Finishing third in the all-night race was Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Lew.

The results however, made little difference as to who would be crowned the overall Super Sporting champion in Season 5 – Axle Sports’ Hayden Haikal.

Victory in the Rookie Class meanwhile, went to Muizzuddin Musyafa, with Sharique Zulqarnain and Nabil Azlan rounding up the top three. Third place however, was enough to crown Nabil with overall Rookie Class champion.

In the Sporting Class, brother Naquib Azlan drove to a dominant Race 2 win - his second straight win over the weekend - to clinch the overall championship title with an unassailable lead in the point standings.

Finishing second in the heatedly contested race was Carroof Motorsport’s Mirza Syahmi Mahzan who crossed the finish line just 0.4 seconds adrift, followed by Tom Goh of S&D Tama Motorsports in third place.

In the Rookie Class for young drivers, Nabil Azlan continued his dominance to win the 20-lap race ahead of Muhammad Hamdany and Muizzuddin Musyaffa who claimed second and third places respectively.

The Promotional Class saw singer Khai Bahar racing to his first race win of the season, just ahead of actress Ahirine Ahirudin with presenter Nabil Ahmad in third position.

That third position however, was enough to earn Nabil the overall Promotional Class title with a six-point advantage over actor Zizan Razak who again finished runner-up in his second successive season.

Season 5’s finale festival sees the entire rooftop length of the Sepang International Circuit’s main paddock building transformed into a festival ground, with myriad of activities for fans and spectators.

Also read: Among thousands of Toyota Vios and Yaris in Malaysia, Gazoo Racing offers ways to stand out