The Toyota VIOS Challenge is all set to make its long-awaited international debut as part of the exciting return of the AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series to Malaysian soil.
After a 12-year hiatus, the prestigious Japanese touring car championship is coming back with UMW Toyota Motor and Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia (TGR Malaysia) taking the lead as the event’s Title Sponsor.
Scheduled to run from 26 to 28 June 2025 at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, this high-profile event is expected to draw a crowd of over 40,000 racing enthusiasts and capture the attention of more than 162 million viewers worldwide across broadcast and digital platforms.
For the first time ever, the VIOS Challenge will support a globally recognised racing series. As one of the two major support races during the SUPER GT Malaysia Festival, the VIOS Challenge will debut a new one-hour endurance race format, replacing its traditional 30-minute sprint. The race will cover the full 5.543-kilometre Sepang circuit, featuring all three competitive classes:
- Super Sporting Class (Professional drivers)
- Sporting Class (Amateur racers)
- Rookie Class (Young talent in development)
Five young drivers from the Toyota GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Programme, which began in 2021, will take to the grid in only their second race of the season—this time on a global stage. The programme has already produced 22 graduates, with over 10 actively competing in Malaysia and four achieving international wins and titles.
Now entering its eighth season, the VIOS Challenge continues to be one of the most accessible and competitive one-make racing series in the region. With a total prize pool of RM800,000, the 2025 season features 36 drivers from Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand competing in identical Toyota VIOS race cars, each powered by a 1.5-litre engine and a 5-speed manual transmission.
With tightly matched machinery, races are frequently decided by driver skill, setup, and strategic prowess—often resulting in thrilling, bumper-to-bumper action. Fans can catch every adrenaline-charged moment live across Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s digital platforms.
The Sepang event is the sole overseas stop in the 2025 SUPER GT calendar, featuring eight rounds held exclusively in Japan. Toyota continues to dominate the GT500 class as the TOM’s GR Supra and KeePer CERUMO GR Supra have already claimed wins in the opening rounds at Okayama and Fuji Speedway respectively.
Beyond the racetrack, visitors to the SUPER GT Malaysia Festival can immerse themselves in a rich motorsport and cultural experience at the Sepang Circuit Mall and Grandstand area. Attractions include:
- Displays of performance-oriented GR models: GR Supra, GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR86, GR Sport Corolla, and Corolla Cross HEV GR Sport
- Exclusive GR merchandise
- Interactive games, family-friendly activities, and attractive prizes
- A vibrant Japanese cultural and food village
- JDM (Japan Domestic Market) car exhibits
- The energetic GT Live! concert, headlined by:
- Garam & Madu
- TNJ (Tenxi, Naykilla & Jemsii)
- Kaka Azraff, KL48, Fareedpf of K-Clique, and Sabhi Saddi
The event is organised by HARO Sports & Entertainment, the official promoter and rights holder of SUPER GT in Malaysia, with sanctioning by the GT Association (GTA)—custodians of the SUPER GT Series.
Tickets for this high-octane weekend are now available at www.supergtmalaysia.com, with prices as follows:
- K1 Grandstand: RM100 (RM80 for early birds)
- Main Grandstand: RM250 (RM200 for early birds)
- GT Suite: RM350
- GT Live! Rock Zone: RM500
- GT Club Paddock: RM2,000 (includes VIP concert access)
