Malaysia’s premier saloon car racing series, the VIOS Challenge, is set to make a landmark appearance on the international stage during the return of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series to Malaysian soil after a 12-year absence. The event, to be held from 26 to 28 June 2025 at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, will see UMW Toyota Motor and Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia (TGR) take on the role of Title Sponsor.
Anticipation is high, with organisers expecting over 40,000 spectators and a worldwide audience exceeding 162 million viewers across broadcast and digital platforms. The return of SUPER GT to Malaysia marks a significant moment in the nation’s motorsport calendar, now enhanced by the inclusion of the VIOS Challenge as a feature race.
The VIOS Challenge, entering its eighth season, has been a mainstay of local grassroots racing and will adopt a revised one-hour endurance format for this international appearance, doubling its usual 30-minute sprint duration. The race will unfold on the full 5.543-kilometre Sepang circuit and is open to three classes of competitors: the Super Sporting category for professional racers, the Sporting class for amateurs, and the Rookie class comprising young drivers from Toyota’s developmental ranks.
Five rookies from the Toyota GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Programme, launched in 2021, will represent the next generation of Malaysian racing prospects. Since its inception, the programme has produced 22 graduates, with over 10 active in local competitions and four already making their mark internationally with wins and championship titles.
The VIOS Challenge continues to grow in stature, offering RM800,000 in prize money and featuring a competitive field of 36 drivers from Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. All participants race in identical Toyota VIOS vehicles, each powered by a 1.5-litre engine paired with a 5-speed transmission—creating a level playing field where driver skill takes centre stage. Races are often characterised by close battles and dramatic finishes, cementing the championship’s reputation as one of the most thrilling in Southeast Asia.
The Malaysian round of the SUPER GT Series is the only international stop on the 2025 calendar, which otherwise remains focused on Japan. Toyota has been a dominant force in the GT500 class, with TGR Team au TOM’s clinching back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. The 2025 season has also started strong, with the TOM’s GR Supra and KeePer CERUMO GR Supra securing victories in the opening rounds at Okayama and Fuji Speedway respectively.
Visitors to the SUPER GT Malaysia Festival will also be treated to an expansive Toyota GAZOO Racing showcase at the Sepang Circuit’s Mall and Grandstand area. The display will feature a full lineup of GR performance vehicles—including the GR Supra, GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR86, Corolla GR Sport, and Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport—as well as exclusive GR merchandise, interactive games, and prize giveaways. Cultural attractions such as a Japanese food village and a JDM (Japan Domestic Model) car exhibit will add to the immersive atmosphere.
The event will conclude with the GT Live! post-race concert, headlined by a dynamic roster of local music acts including Garam & Madu, Tenxi, Naykilla & Jemsii (TNJ), Kaka Azraff, KL48, Fareedpf K-Clique, and Sabhi Saddi.
The event is organised by HARO Sports & Entertainment, the exclusive rights holder and promoter of SUPER GT in Malaysia, and is sanctioned by the GT Association (GTA), which governs the series globally.
Tickets for the SUPER GT Malaysia Festival are currently on sale via www.supergtmalaysia.com, with pricing set at RM100 for K1 Grandstand access (RM80 early bird), RM250 for the Main Grandstand (RM200 early bird), RM350 for the GT Suite, RM500 for the GT Live! Rock Zone, and RM2,000 for the GT Club Paddock package, which includes VIP concert privileges.
