Fuelled ambition
Malaysian trio set sights on championship title after Japan win
PETALING JAYA: Fresh from winning a World Endurance Championship (WEC) race in Japan, Jazeman Jaafar, Nabil Jeffri and Weiron Tan have set their eyes on the championship title next.
The all-Malaysian trio chalked a first in their respective careers by becoming the first Malaysians and all-Asian line-up to win a WEC race after finishing first in the LMP2 class in the 6 Hours of Fuji race at the Fuji Speedway in Japan on Sunday.
Jazeman, Weiron and Nabil, in the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca-Gibson car, proved their class by taking a comfortable win from the #38 Jackie Chan DC Racing sister car of Ho Pin-tung, Stephane Richelmi and Gabriel Aubry.
The Malaysian rookies are now joint second in the championship table on 86 points with just one point separating them from the leading Signatech Alpine Matmut team.
The Malaysian trio earned their first podium when they finished second in the previous round in Silverstone, United Kingdom in August.
Jazeman was lost for words after crossing the finish line and said it will be a day tattooed forever in his mind.
“To battle for the championship is what we really want and it looks very tight at the top,” said Jazeman.
“The performance of the car was great and we were chipping away in practice and qualifying and in the race proper.
“However, with another four races still to go, including the 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours, we’re only at the halfway point, so we’ll need to continue to have a strong season as we move into 2019. “We are riding high right now, enjoying the moment of my first sportscar win and hopefully, it will be the first of many,” said Jazeman.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali said it was an amazing result taking into account the competitive level of the championship with many big names from Formula 1 competing.
“We have been focusing on Formula 1 in the past but I believe there is a bright future for Malaysians to excel in other forms of motor racing,” he said.
“I hope they can sustain this and continue to build on their careers. SIC also hope that one day they can be roped in as full-time drivers by other teams in the future.
“Jazeman, Weiron and Nabil were facing difficulties continuing as sponsorships were lacking early this year but they showed that all it takes is an opportunity and push in the right direction.
“I am glad the government continued to support the four wheels programme under SIC after we stopped hosting the Formula 1.”
The fifth round of the championship will take place in Shanghai, China, from Nov 17-18.