This weekend’s Season 5 opener of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Vios Challenge one make race series at the Sepang International Circuit is going to be exceptionally special and memorable for 20-year-old Adele Liew and her 48-year-old father Eddie. This father-daughter duo will be going head-to-head with each other on the track and might be the start of the first father vs daughter bout in Malaysian motorsports.
“This is a very special moment for the both of us. In order for me to be able to race my father shows just how long he has been in motorsports…This is going to be a whole new experience for the two of us and my dad is equally very excited. He is definitely the best mentor I could have ever hoped for to prepare for my first ever race weekend,” said Adele who joins the Rookie Class with only limited experience and seat time behind the wheel of fun karts.
Meanwhile, 48-year-old father Eddie is an accomplished racing veteran who has been racing since the 90’s. The two will get a chance to compete against each other even though Adele will be competing in the Rookie Class while Eddie competes in the Sporting Class for the more professional drivers.
“I only started driving fun karts last year and I just managed to do this for a month before the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force, “said Adele.
“I’ve been tagging along with my father and his friends to the racing track since I was 3 years old. He used to compete a lot at the then Pasir Gudang Circuit (Johor Circuit), and I’ve been following him to all his races ever since, from the Malaysia Championship Series and the MSF Series to the Sepang 1000km Endurance Race.”
Adele will be going up against five other young drivers who will be competing in the Rookie Class in this Vios Challenge. The Rookie Class is part of UMW Toyota Motor’s initiative to give young drivers an opportunity to climb the motorsports ladder with their talent. This started with the Gazoo Racing Young Talent Development Program specifically looking for candidates between the age of 16-20 who are transitioning from karting and simulator racing to saloon car racing.
“Compared to the others, I am a real beginner with limited experience and that means I have to put in twice the effort. We’ll see how things go as the season progresses but I’d really like to get on to the podium and make my dad proud. From several sessions on the track with the Vios race car and being guided by several different coaches – some of who were last year’s Rookie Class racers – I’ve learnt a lot especially in mentally preparing myself. And the car is also very easy to drive.”
