A STORM came but it did little to cool the fiery action on the track as the cars battled it out.
Round one of the GRA National Autocross Championships got off to a rip roaring start at the Sepang International Circuit car park as a good field of top notch autocross drivers battled it out.
The race saw the regular racers creating big gains in horsepower as the top positions were taken by force induction cars.
Coming in first, second and third overall was Mitch Chong, Ivan Khong and Terence Soh respectively
Ivan led in the early stages but Mitch rallied to claim the top spot with a marginal difference after cumulative times were added.
Halfway through the race, heavy rain came with strong winds blasting the trees and the SIC car park, causing an official race delay.
After the rain stopped, it was pretty much the same positions in the drivers’ overall standings as the faster times were posted in the first four runs in the dry.
Running into its 10th year, the GRA series is the longest surviving grassroot level motorsports event.
Ambassador and founder of the GRA, Ian Khong said: “It has been a long journey and now that we are headed into our 10th year, we will continue it further with our partners.”
Howard Goh, Head of Red Line Oil in Malaysia, said: “It is great to be involved in this level of motorsports as this is where it all begins for most aspiring race drivers.”
Returning to support GRA for the second year is Ghee Hiang Biscuits from Penang. Karen Puah from Ghee Hiang said: “Though we are not a company that is involved in motorsports directly, we believe in nurturing a sport that starts from grassroots levels.”
Euroscale, a well known company in the automotive circle that provides specialized automotive events for automotive clients, also returns to GRA for the second time.
Ivan Khong, who heads the company, said: “We always keep a lookout for talents in specific fields and one of it involves driving well, consistency, and the desire to succeed.
“The GRA brings out the hidden talent in a driver, and that is why we are here.”