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| Karim gives his thumb-up while seated in the Formula Campus Single Seater Open Wheel Racing car. Also seen are Clifford Tiong (second left), Paul (third left), and Christopher (right). |
KUCHING: Auto racing fans across Borneo can get their first taste of sound and speed in the race circuit at the first ever Single Seater Open Wheel Racing Car series to be held in Sarawak.
Borneo International Motorsports (BIM) Sdn Bhd will be organising the AAM Borneo Formula Series 2014 at the International Karting Circuit in Permyjaya, Miri.
Registration of the event is open to all racers in Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah.
The event is supported by Sarawak Automotive Racing Sport Association (Sarsa) and Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM).
12 Formula Campus Single Seater Open Wheel Racing cars will be imported into Miri for the event.
Assistant Youth Development Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah said yesterday that the event will be a good start to boost the car racing in Sarawak.
“Sarawak has seen quite a number of motorsports races being held including drag race, motocross and ‘kap cai’ race. And this new racing series will boost the development of motorsports in Sarawak,” he told a media conference at Regency Rajah Court here.
“With a suitable track in Miri equipped with all the facilities and safety features, we can develop this form of sports in Sarawak and provide more opportunities for youths to showcase their skills and talents,” he said.
“Moreover, the event will be a great tourism product for Sarawak as well. Visitors from Brunei and Sabah can head down to Miri to watch the races,” he added.
BIM chief executive officer (CEO) Christopher Tiong revealed that a total of 12 professional drivers, including two from Sarawak, will be representing the corporate companies competing in the Team Series.
The only two Sarawakians in the team are junior champion driver Asha Hairy, 20, of Petronas Racing team and Tony Teo, who had entered the International Touring Car Racing.
“We are looking for sponsorships from corporate companies to join the race series by creating a team of their own in which they could benefit from having their corporate logo advertised on the car and suits as well as other promotional activities as we go along,” he elaborated.
“We are very proud to be selected to hold this event which is also the first to be held outside Semenanjung Malaysia. This event will provide an even greater boost and impetus to the sport of car racing in Sarawak,” he added.
With a new race series coming in and taking note of the storage problem at the circuit, Christopher said BIM will discuss the details on expanding the storage facility with the government for the usage of the public as well as private teams.
The races, divided into five stages, will be held throughout the year with the first round to start on March 22-23 followed by second round (May 10- 11), third round (June 14-15), fourth round (Sept 6-7) and the fifth round (Oct 18-19).
Besides the main race, Christopher said Borneo Rotax Challenge 2014, which is a Borneo Go-Karting Series, will also be included as a support race.
Meanwhile, Paul David of AAM said the event will be a great platform to source for new talents for motorsport.
“Most professional racers started with go-karting before progressing to Formula Campus cars and then to Formula 1 cars,” he said.
Further details concerning corporate sponsorship can be obtained from the BIM office at 082-579337 or fax to 082-579637 or motorsports manager Jane Anthoney at 014-9990065.
Also present at the event were Sarsa representative Lucas Tan, Sarsa vice president Benjamin Maimoon and BIM executive director Clifford Tiong.
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