Adam passes thorough evaluation for seat with Team Engstler

PETALING JAYA: After a thorough evaluation based on overall performance, Sepang International Circuit ( SIC) has named up-and-coming driver Adam Khalid (pic) as their choice for the seat with Team Engstler in the TCR Asia Series.

Adam will replace last year’s candidate Mitchell Cheah, who will now move on to compete in the TCR Germany.

The 21-year old Adam, who competed in the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) and the Sepang 1000km Endurance Race with impressive results last year, was selected ahead of Malaysia’s other top three racing talents – Mark Darwin, Brendan Paul Anthony and Ahmad Akid Azlee.

“We placed all four drivers in the TCR Malaysia, which ran for three rounds, with a mission to select one driver to go to TCR Asia under the SIC Talent Development Programme.

“All four were very talented and it was indeed a difficult and painful decision that we have to make.

“The selection was not just based on results at the TCR Malaysia; but an overall assessment based on fitness, performance and behavioural qualities,” said SIC chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali.

Scoring a double second placing in Round 4 of the MCS and second overall in S1K earned him the opportunity to be selected for the shootout for the SIC Talent Development Programme, which he eventually won.

“Being recently selected by SIC as their Talent Development Driver is a huge stepping stone in my career and I thank them for believing in me and giving me this once-in-alifetime opportunity. I’ll give it my all or nothing.

“Over the short period of time on the weekend, the team really did support me in every aspect from feeling welcomed to fully learning the car,” said Adam.