Petaling Jaya 9th May – Grass Racing Autosports or commonly known as GRA, started their 5th successive autocross championships with a new timing system which will set the standards for motorsports even for grassroot level motorsports in this region. GRA is sponsored by Red Line Oils, Vanli Genuine Parts, Gophers GPS, EcoCoats Surface Enhancement Specialist, Perma Glass, BFGoodrich Tires, ContourHD, Greenletrics, and Acrogain.

The autocross series comprising of 5 rounds this year will prove to be a very competitive one, with the return of BFGoodrich Team comprising of 2 Subaru Imprezas of Ivan Khong and Andy Kow and Lotus Team Malaysia comprising of Marcus Chye.

Newly formulated autocross team of Vanli Genuine Parts and new entrant sponsor of PG Perma Glass made up the field with the longest standing team, Team Red Line making up the front runners of this exciting series. Marcus Chye’s return to the series claimed top spot when he managed to clinch 1st Overall in the opening round of GRA. Marcus for Team Lotus Malaysia showed that he still has what it takes after taking a 2 year break from the championships. With a newly refreshed Lotus, added horsepower and some refinements done to the engine, he proved significantly faster than everyone else by having a two second gap to 2nd fastest rival Ee Yoong Cherng in a Nissan S13 Silvia Turbo.

Andy Kow GRA’s 2008 & 2009 Champion only managed a 3rd Overall placing, with his compatriot Ivan Khong in a similar Subaru and also 2007 GRA Champion retiring after coming to a curb at the end straight. The race held in Metro Puchong Driving Academy proved to be a very tight one, with high concrete curbs, and 3 different track surfaces making it incredibly difficult to drive.

‘This is one course that separates the boys from the men, you can go really quickly in the open areas but one has to be really careful at the curb sections ‘, explained Ian Khong, the ambassador to GRA.

Team Vanli comprising of William Lim in a Suzuki Swift and Woo Keen Pong in a Proton Satria 1.6, proved to be winners in their classes when William clinched 1st in Automatic class, and also 1st in Class OA ( Open class up to 1500cc ). Pong in the Proton Satria took 4th Overall in his Class OB, driving the Satria only for the very first time.

The other highlight of the race saw the Grass Class or Novice drivers taking the morning section of the day. Fastest novice of the day went to Imman Tuah piloting a Honda Civic Automatic 1500cc. It was his 2nd year in GRA, and coming in 3rd Overall behind William and Fred Foong who are both Pro-Class drivers in the Automatic class was a big achievement. Jeff Lee in a Perodua Kelisa loaned from his elder brother Alven Lee, has an excursion with the side fence and nearly went into the drain. Nothing major was damaged but Alven had to resort to loaning a car from another competitor; Kenneth Chiew in order to compete in the Pro-Grass category later that afternoon.

In the Pro-Grass Class, Class OA ( Up to 1500cc ) William took first in class followed by Kenneth and Alven. It was a pretty standard affair amongst the three drivers as they exchanged fastest times, with Alven and Kenneth both sharing the same car. In Class OB ( 1501cc – 1600cc), Charlie Ling in a Toyota Trueno RWD, took top spot while Nigel Chye in a Toyota Trueno FWD taking 2nd. 3rd place went to Leon Tan in a Toyota KE70 despite him redecorating the front bumper after a meeting with the fence pole.

For Class OC ( 1601cc – 2200cc ) it was a new battle between Team Red Line’s Julian Pang in a Proton Wira versus Team Perma Glass’s Sia Chee Bin in a Proton Satria Neo. Both cars have very similar engines which was the MIVEC from Mitsubishi. However Julian the more experienced driver with many numerous championships under his belt, proved to be uncatchable thus clinching 1st in Class. Sia managed a 2nd spot and would be vying to give Julian a tougher run in Round 2 in June. 3rd spot went to Nicholas Teh piloting a Proton Putra 1800cc. Partners Gophers GPS, Mr. Lee Siong the General Manager himself took part in his first ever autocross event in his Mazda Miata.

‘I have never driven my Miata so hard before, and it is hot out there’, said an exuberant and excited Lee. For the Novice Category of Class OC, William Wong in a Proton Satria GTI took first spot, with Chu Poh Kin in a Toyota Altezza taking 2nd with Fardydy Kamal in a Proton Putra taking 3rd. William repeated his win again, and this is his 2nd win since Putrajaya Round 4 last year.

In Novice Class OD, Zahril Fikri in his Daihatsu Espri Turbo took 1st spot, with Christopher Chong in a Mazda Miata taking 2nd with Oliver Yong in a Perodua Myvi Turbo coming in 3rd. Christ in his first ever GRA event did well by slotting in a podium finish for himself amongst Zahril and Oliver who are now in their 2nd year in Autocrossing.

For the morning session, the novice drivers that took centre stage was Syafiq Amsyar in a Proton Saga BLM for the Class A ( 1300cc and Below ). He was followed closely by Lim Chee Siong in a Proton Iswara and Ksaven in a Toyota Starlet KP61. Sean Siew in a Toyota Corolla 1.6SEG took Class B in a convincing fashion followed by Jarryd Tan in a Satria Neo CPS, with Hafis Syukor in another Satria Neo coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

GRA would be moving to Round 2 in June 5th , and would be expecting a huge turnout again. GRA is a grassroots motorsports event that is sanctioned by Motorsports Association of Malaysia and the pioneer autocrossing organizers today. For more information do log onto www.grassracingautosports.com for more information.

Prepared by Grass Racing Autosports Sdn Bhd