It’s Round 3 of the 2017 Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) and another showcase of the best of motor racing at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for three consecutive days beginning today, with some of the best actions running into the night.
Apart from the national championship, fans will also be treated with actions from the single-seater Asian Formula Renault, Formula Masters Series, the Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup, the Audi R8 Le Mans Series (LMS), the Touring Car Series in Asia and the Classic Car challenge. Making it one of the biggest car racing event in Sepang.
And, for the first time in the history of the MCS, fans and competitors will have some taste of night racing excitement with the opening Race 1 on Saturday scheduled to start at 7.20pm and running for an hour up to 8.20 pm. Race 2 will run a little earlier from 5.15pm on Sunday.
Championship leader for the premier Touring Production class, 19-year old Mitchell Cheah of N1 Racing will be severely tested as he will need to manage an additional 30kg in success ballast for the opening race; courtesy of his victory in Race 2 at Round 2. Team-mate Desmond Yee, who gave the team a splendid 1-2, will be carrying an additional 20kg.
Asked on his views for this weekend’s race, Mitchell said that he would be taking a cautious approach; acknowledging that competition in the series has been stiff.
“I aim to fight for top spot in both races. The team had worked well in preparing the car for the previous two rounds and they are working hard to better prepare the car for Round 3,” he said.
Mitchell’s biggest challenger, seasoned driver Keifli Othman of Mayhem Motorsports would be hoping for a smooth Round 3 after encountering a challenging second round.
“We won Race 1; but we suffered engine problem in Race 2 while we were leading. Hopefully, we have better luck this weekend and the car remains good for both race. The target as always is to win and secure maximum championship points,” he said.
In the Malaysian Touring Car (MTC) championship, Nick Mah looked set to continue his domination over his rivals despite having to carry the extra kilogrammes in success ballast in his Suzuki Swift machine.
Currently with maximum points; having won all the previous four races, Nick’s biggest threat continue to come for his racing buddies – Kenny Lee and Neo Cheng Hen, who are currently second in the championship standings.
Fans can catch all the actions for free from the Main Grandstand. To be closer to the actions, fans can purchase Paddock Passes at the entrance of the Paddock.
Alternatively, fans can catch all the actions live on social media as SIC will have the actions on livestreaming at its Facebook page and Youtube on Saturday and Sunday.
MALAYSIA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – ROUND 3
RACE PROGRAMME
Friday, 5 May 2017
0900 hrs – 0930 hrs: Asian Formula Renault Free Practice 1 (30 mins)
0945 hrs – 1030 hrs: Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup Free Practice 1 (45 mins)
1045 hrs – 1130 hrs: Audi R8 LMS Free Practice 1 (45 mins)
1145 hrs – 1215 hrs: Touring Car Series in Asia Free Practice 1 (30 mins)
1230 hrs – 1300 hrs: Formula Masters Series Free Practice (30 mins)
1400 hrs – 1430 hrs: Asian Formula Renault Free Practice 2 (30 mins)
1445 hrs – 1530 hrs: Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup Free Practice 2 (45 mins)
1545 hrs – 1615 hrs: Malaysia Championship Series Free Practice (30 mins)
1630 hrs – 1700 hrs: Touring Car Series in Asia Free Practice 2(30 mins)
1715 hrs – 1800 hrs: Audi R8 LMS Free Practice 2 (45 mins)
1815 hrs – 1830 hrs: Formula Masters Series Qualifying 1 (15 mins)
1835 hrs – 1850 hrs: Formula Masters Series Qualifying 2 (15 mins)
1900 hrs – 1930 hrs: Malaysia Championship Series Qualifying (30 mins)
Saturday, 6 May 2017
0820 hrs – 0845 hrs: Asian Formula Renault Qualifying (25 mins)
0900 hrs – 0915 hrs: Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup Qualifying 1 (15 mins)
0920 hrs – 0935 hrs: Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup Qualifying 2 (15 mins)
0950 hrs – 1020 hrs: Touring Car Series in Asia Qualifying (30 mins)
1035 hrs – 1050 hrs: Audi R8 LMS Qualifying 1 (15 mins)
1100 hrs – 1115 hrs: Audi R8 LMS Qualifying 2 (15 mins)
1140 hrs – 1210 hrs: Formula Masters Series Race 1 (10 laps or 25 mins)
1225 hrs – 1255 hrs: Classic Car Free Practice (30 mins)
1320 hrs – 1355 hrs Asian Formula Renault Race 1 (24 min + 1 lap)
1420 hrs – 1525 hrs: Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup Race 1 (1 hour plus leader)
1550 hrs – 1620 hrs Touring Car Series in Asia Race 1 (10 laps)
1645 hrs – 1720 hrs Audi R8 LMS Race 1 (30 mins plus leader)
1745 hrs – 1805 hrs Formula Masters Series Race 2 (6 laps or 15 mins)
1820 hrs – 1850 hrs: Classic Car Qualifying (30 mins)
1915 hrs – 2020 hrs: Malaysia Championship Series Race 1 (1 hour plus leader)
Sunday, 7 May 2017
0910 hrs – 0940 hrs: Classic Car Race 1 (10 laps)
1005 hrs – 1035 hrs: Formula Master Series Race 3 (10 laps or 25 mins)
1100 hrs – 1130 hrs: Touring Car Series in Asia Race 2 (10 laps)
1155 hrs – 1225 hrs: Classic Car Race 2 (10 laps)
1250 hrs – 1325 hrs: Audi R8 LMS Race 2 (30 mins plus leader)
1355 hrs – 1500 hrs: Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup Race 2 (1 hour plus leader)
1525 hrs – 1555 hrs: Asian Formula Renault Race 2 (30 mins)
1620 hrs – 1650 hrs: Formula Masters Series Race 4 (10 laps or 25 mins)
1715 hrs – 1820 hrs: Malaysia Championship Series Race 2 (1 hour plus leader)
