Vios Challenge Season 5 marks the racing debut of Alister Yoong

KUALA LUMPUR: Expected to be one of the most exciting seasons of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival and Vios Challenge yet, the opening round of Season 5 is set to rock the Sepang International Circuit this weekend. From the star-studded line-up of racers and former champions to young recruits to first-ever father-daughter racing, the event will have everything to hold you tight.

Among the young drivers who are under the age of 20 is Alister Yoong, the son of ex-Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong. He will be competing in the Super Sporting Class with years of karting and single-seater racing experience under his belt. While he is a newbie to the series as well as touring cars, his credentials and the status of his national competition license helped him in enrolling into the Super Sporting Class for professional and elite drivers. 

“These guys are tremendous drivers. Hayden Haikal is a prosperous young talent, Mitchell Cheah is a WTCR driver, and Tengku Djan has some 30 years of experience and has won this championship on three occasions, and that’s just to name a few. I know how good they are and I look forward to trying to beat them,” said Alister who placed his Axle Motorsports Toyota Vios third fastest in  Friday’s free practice session.  

“I know I am on the back foot coming in at the very top class with everyone here being really good drivers, some probably the best in Malaysia, but a good driver should be able to adapt. I have been working very hard with the team in terms of the vehicle set-up and the data and I think it has gone well so far. I will of course be aiming for the win. As a racing driver, you don’t turn up with the intention of taking anything less than a win. That’s my ultimate goal but obviously, I have to first get some solid points and establish myself in the top five – that would be a pretty successful debut weekend.”

While his father Alex Yoong is a renowned name in international GT and touring car racing Alister is composed and his own man in terms of racing. 

Upon asking about a typical race weekend between father and son, Alister replied, “At the track, we’ve always said that we’re not family – we’re not even friends. There is no time or point in being lovey-dovey and trying to make each other feel good if it’s going to affect the result.  We’re here for results, to do well, to push and do our jobs and that’s exactly what we’ll do. At the  track, he’s not really my dad but he’s my team manager and coach, someone to talk to if I find it will help me and that’s the kind of dynamics of our race weekend.” 

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