Spurred by their success in the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) this season, the Malaysian-Indonesian partnership of Mark Darwin and Fitra Eri will be gunning for their second major crown this year at the Sepang 1000km race (S1K) to cap a sensational 2014 for Team Sakura-Tedco Racing.
Ending the two-year reign of Syafiq Ali and Proton R3 Motorsports in the Malaysian Touring Car (MTC) category of the series this season, the duo are determined to make up for their second placing last year where they lost to Honda Malaysia Racing Team by (HMRT) just 12 seconds.
“Being crowned the 2014 MSS MTC overall champion will undoubtedly add a lot of pressure on us going to S1K. But, we are ready for the challenge. We are hoping to win this year. We aim to go one step higher this time around.
First introduced in 2009, the sixth edition of the S1K event takes place this weekend in Sepang with a host of on-track and off-track activities being lined up for the fans. Apart from the main event, fans can also catch single-seater action from the Asia Cup and the prestigious Asian Le Mans Series.
For the off-track programme, SIC is organizing an auto carnival, which would feature a record gathering of Proton Exora cars, an auto show and a host of other fun activities for family and children on Saturday.
The S1K race opens with the official free practice tomorrow. Qualifying will be held on Friday with the race to be flagged off at 1pm on Saturday. Sunday’s programme will continue with the final Asia Cup race and the Asian Le Mans endurance race.
As in previous years, Darwin said that the 2014 edition would be very challenging especially among the leading prominent teams with the likes of defending champion HMRT and former champions, Proton R3 Motorsports and Type Racing Team.
“We know that the race is going to be very challenging as the top 10 cars are very competitive. We might need to work out the smallest details to win this year’s race,” said Darwin, who had also been competing regularly in the Saturday Night Fever
” HMRT has announced that they would be entering two new race machines – an All-New Jazz and a Honda City for the first time in defending their title. They have retained the winning partnership of Eddie Lew and Aaron Lim, with Farriz Fauzy set to partner Malaysia’s top driver Alif Hamdan in the second car.
Aaron and Eddie won the race in a Honda Jazz machine; completing the 181 laps around the 5.543km track in 8 hours 24 minutes 41.686 seconds. Type R Racing – winners in 2009 and 2011 – took third place with the same number of laps completed in their Toyota Altis.
SATURDAY, 6th DECEMBER 2014
0915 hrs – 0945 hrs Asian Le Mans Series Free Practice 3 (30 min)
1000 hrs – 1030 hrs Asia Cup Race 4 (8 laps)
1100 hrs – 1130 hrs Asian Le Mans Series Qualifying (30 min)
1215 hrs Sepang 1000km Pit Exit Open
1230 hrs Sepang 1000km Pit Exit Close
1250 hrs National Anthem
1252 hrs 5 minute Board
1254 hrs 3 minute Board
1256 hrs 1 minute Board
1257 hrs Formation lap
1300 hrs Sepang 1000km Race Start (181 Laps)
2200 hrs Prize Presentation
SUNDAY, 7th DECEMBER 2014
1130 hrs – 1200 hrs Asia Cup Race 5 (8 laps)
1220 hrs Asian Le Mans Series Pit Exit Open
1230 hrs Asian Le Mans Series Pit Exit Close
1300 hrs – 1600 hrs Asian Le Mans Series Race (180 min)
1630 hrs – 1700 hrs Asia Cup Race 6 (10 laps)
