Three for the road
SIC banking on Weiron, Afiq and Jazeman in Le Mans quest
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) have taken the first step towards realising its aspiration of having an all-Malaysian team to race in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours in France by 2019.
The SIC have roped in Weiron Tan, 23, and Afiq Ikhwan, 26, to join Jazeman Jaafar, 25, in the renowned Jackie Chan DC Racing X Jota team, who are competing in the ongoing Asian Le Mans Series.
The trio will now carry the team’s challenge behind the wheel of a Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) race car in the last two legs of the fourround series next year at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, from Jan 11-13 and the SIC from Feb 2-4.
SIC chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali said that SIC was offered another two berths by the Jackie Chan DC Racing X Jota side following Jazeman’s impressive debut in the second leg in Fuji, Japan, two weeks ago.
Despite being called up at the eleventh hour to partner American David Cheng, Jazeman finished third in the 4-Hour race.
“I see this as a stepping stone in reaching our ambition of racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours,” said Razlan.
“The Le Mans 24 Hours is the world’s oldest and most iconic endurance race and it’s a dream for all drivers to qualify and participate.
“While it may sound ambitious (to qualify for the 2019 edition) within a short period of time, it’s a realistic dream.”
Jazeman and Co are not expected to just make up the numbers when they take the tarmac next month.
“We expect this team to finish on the podium in the next two races,” said Razlan.
“If they can achieve that, we’re looking to put them for a full season in the coming Asian Le Mans Series. The goal is to become the overall winners (of the LMP 2 category) for the 2018-19 season and qualify for the 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours.”
Jazeman is ready to repay SIC’s faith in him while fulfilling his own ambition in the GT racing after making the switch from single-seater last year.
“Like any other drivers, it’s my dream to conquer not just the single-seater racing, but the endurance racing as well,” said Jazeman, who competed in the British Formula 3 Championship and Formula Renault 3.5 Series previously.
“I started my GT career in 2016 by finishing second in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. Now I’m looking into the prospect of making it to the Le Mans which is the ultimate goal.”
Weiron, too, was a former single-seater racer seeking to make a name for himself in the sportscar competition.
He believes his experience in the LMP 3 category in last season’s Asian Le Mans will come in handy.
“Although the (LMP 2) car would be very different, I know how the racing format works as well as other aspects such as saving fuel and tyres. So that definitely gives me an edge,” said Weiron.
Afiq’s credentials include winning the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia for three seasons in a row since 2015.
The trio will be looking to follow in the footsteps of former Malaysian Formula One driver Alex Yoong who featured in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2006 and 2007.
Alex was the 2006 Rookie of the Year before finishing a creditable fifth in the LMP 1 the following year.