First-ever father vs daughter bout in Malaysian motorsports

KUALA LUMPUR: Season 5 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival and Vios Challenge have started at the Sepang International Circuit. And, just like the previous years, the series has been divided into 4 classes viz. Promotional, Super Sporting, Sporting Class, and Rookie Class. However, making this year exceptionally special is the first-ever father-daughter racing in the same event. 

The  20-year-old Adele Liew and her 48-year-old father Eddie will be competing against each other on the track that can be seen as the very first father vs daughter bout in  Malaysian motorsports. 

On her participation in the Rookie Class with only limited experience and seat time behind the wheel of fun karts, Adele Liew said, “This is a very special moment for the both of us. In order for me to be able to race my father shows just how long he has been in motorsports…This is going to be a whole new experience for the two of us and my dad is equally very excited. He is definitely the best mentor I could have ever hoped for to prepare for my first ever race weekend.”

On the other hand,  Adele’s father or accomplished racing veteran Eddie will be competing in the Super Sporting Class for elite and professional drivers with a history that dates back to the early 90s. Although they are competing in different classes, their races will start at the same time giving them an opportunity to spar on the track. 

“I only started driving fun karts last year and I just managed to do this for a month before the  Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force. I’ve been tagging along with my father and his friends to the racing track since I was 3 years old. He used to compete a lot at the then Pasir  Gudang Circuit (Johor Circuit), and I’ve been following him to all his races ever since, from the  Malaysia Championship Series and the MSF Series to the Sepang 1000km Endurance Race,” added Adele.

In her first-ever amateur race, Adele will compete against five other young drivers in the Rookie Class. The latter is part of UMW Toyota Motor’s initiative to provide young drivers a platform to climb the motorsports ladder. The company also runs a GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program for candidates who are aged between 16 to 20 and transitioning from simulator racing or karting to saloon car racing. 

You can catch the weekend’s action live on the UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd website at  www.toyota.com.my and the Toyota Malaysia and TGR Malaysia Facebook pages. 

Also read: Vios Challenge Season 5 marks the racing debut of Alister Yoong