Three Malaysians, two Japanese, one each from Australia and Sri Lanka and nine drivers from Hong Kong will be vying for the glamourous privilege of being the first champion of the inaugural Kuala Lumpur’s first ever street race – the KL City GT Cup this weekend.
Spearheaded by former F1 test driver and 2009 Renault 3.5 World Series vice-champion Fairuz Fauzy, Malaysia’s challenge will also be carried by the highly experienced season competitor Adrian d’ Silva and a young Afiq Ikhwan Yazid – a former Asian karting champion who currently competes in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asian Series.
While Australia will have Josh Hunt and a Mercedes Bez SLS AMG GT3 machine for their hope, the challenge for the Land of the Rising Sun will be carried by dynamic duo Yudai Uchida and Naoki Yokomizo on identical Lamborghini Super Trofeo LP620, which is prepared by Direction Racing.
Sri Lanka by be represented by their No. 1 driver, Dilantha Malagamuwa, who will drive a Lamborghini Super Trofeo LP620 for Dilango Racing
The eight Hong Kong drivers are Frank Yu, Sam Lok, Michael Choi, Wong Kiang Kuan, Gerald Yap, Robert Webb, Anthony Chan, Eric Wong and William O’Brien. Four of them will on Lotus machines for Team Lotus.
Delighted to be part of the historical event, Fairuz, who will be driving a Lamborghini Gallardo, said it was difficult to actually name the hot favourites among all the 16 drivers especially with the event staged in the streets of Kuala Lumpur for the first time.
“It would be an open affair. Everybody will be racing in the city for the first. It’s same for everyone. No one has an advantage. We don’t know the feel of the circuit until we have our first practice session on Friday. We don’t know how technical the circuit is.
“Looking at the track layout, it is very technical. For me, the most important is to have your homework done as much as possible. Have good practice sessions and finish all the practice sessions. That will help you in qualifying and you will be able to start up front.
“In any case, it will be very exciting. It’s more entertaining as you are bringing the circuit to the crowd unlike an event at the circuit. The atmosphere is very different. Street racing is far more challenging than circuit racing. There is no room for error. There is no gravel bed; there is no additional run-off area. You have to extra careful,” he added.
Fairuz commended the race promoters and organisers in bringing the event; saying that it was good to further promote Malaysia and the city of Kuala Lumpur.
“I sincerely hope this will be an annual event. Have more promotions and it will be even greater next year,” he added.
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