All 15 of Asia’s top e-racers charged into the thick of the fray and when the dust settled, Malaysian, Taj Izrin Aiman, was left standing atop the grueling battle. The Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) GT Cup Asia capped in a heart-pounding finale as the best of the region faced off at the Connexion Conference and Event Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its homegrown talent emerged victorious with a total cumulative points of 65. He was followed by Indonesia’s Andika Rama, last year’s champion, with 57 points, while securing the final spot on the podium was his fellow man, Moreno Pratama, with 48 points. Additionally, with this, the Indonesians, meantime, secured the coveted Country Championship title.
Jousting for positions against them on world-class circuits were other racers from Singapore, Thailand and, of course, the Philippines. The showdown, held on Gran Turismo 7 for PlayStation®5 (PS5®) and PlayStation®4 (PS4®), put the racers’ precision driving and racing acumen to the test. They were able to showcase their talents across three races on iconic race tracks, such as the Sardegna Windmills, Nürburgring Grand Prix (GP), and Fuji International Speedway.
“I’m truly at a loss for words,” said Aiman in a statement.
According to him, his triumph this time was, in a way, redemption after suffering from various technical difficulties rendering him unable to finish the races last year.
“ I’m overwhelmed with pride that my dedication and training have paid off, leading to a victory at the TGR GT Cup Asia 2024,” the elated top winner continued.
Grueling races
The competition began with sunny weather on TGR GT Asia Cup’s first-ever rally track, the Sardegna Windmills circuit, where drivers took the wheel of the GR Yaris. Throughout most of the race, the most intense battles occurred mid-race, where drivers from Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia tussled it out tooth and nail. The race ended with lap timings for all drivers separated by less than half a minute.
Next was the Nürburgring GP, featuring drivers in the GR Corolla Morizo Edition ’22. With a reverse grid for the top eight finishers from race one, it proved to be tricky for most of the racers. Yet, maintaining composure, the Malaysians’ team strategy worked in their favor, with two of their driver’s taking up second and third places. Harsh weather also proved to be a crucial factor, which made it challenging, eventually leading to many position changes for several drivers.
Finally, culminating the intense competition was the technically challenging Fuji International Speedway. Here, technical prowess proved to be an advantage. Opting for soft tires at the start, while many of his competitors chose mediums, the Malaysian champion was able to keep his lead and eventually secured the win through a well-timed pit stop strategy.
After the intense competition, Aiman shared: “I’m excited to continue training with Andika Rama as we prepare for the Global Cup in Amsterdam. A heartfelt thank you to Toyota Motor Asia for this incredible opportunity!”
Special awards were also given to Aiman for being recognized as the Driver of the Day, our own Philippine pride, Russel Reyes, for taking home the Best Racecraft and Rama for winning Fastest Race Pace.
After this stage, the top winners get the chance to represent the region in the TGR GT Cup Global Finals in Amsterdam in December.
