ARRC 2023 Round 2 – Sepang Malaysia Circuit: An Electrifying Battle on the Big Stage

A world-class racing venue

Located just 60 km from the Malaysian capital and adjacent to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the Sepang Circuit is a state-of-the-art high-speed racing arena.

The Sepang International Circuit was completed in a record time of 14 months and became the venue for the F1 races from 1999 to 2017. It has hosted other prestigious races such as MotoGP, Super GT, World Touring Car Cup, Asia Le Mans Series, Superbike World Championship, and the Endurance World Championship (EWC), including the Asia Road Racing Championship – ARRC.

Designed by German engineer Hermann Tilke, who also designed famous circuits like Shanghai, Sakhir, Istanbul, Marina Bay, and Yas Marina, the Sepang Circuit offers a challenging and exciting track for racers around the world.

The circuit boasts impressive records, with Sebastian Vettel setting the fastest lap time of 1 minute 34.080 seconds in his Scuderia Ferrari in 2017, and Spanish rider Jorge Martin holding the best lap time of 1 minute 59.634 seconds on a Ducati in the 2022 MotoGP season.

Spanning an area of 260 hectares, the Sepang International Circuit features a 5,543 m racing track with 15 curves and 8 straight sections, allowing racers to reach speeds of over 300 km/h. With a total seating capacity of 170,000, including 32,000 air-conditioned seats in the main stands, the circuit offers a stunning experience for spectators.

Thanks to its unique geographical location, the Sepang Circuit experiences hot, humid, and unpredictable weather. Situated just 300 km from the equator, the track provides a true tropical racing experience with temperatures reaching up to 35°C and high humidity making it feel like 40°C. The asphalt surface can even exceed 50°C.

These extreme conditions pose a significant challenge for both the riders and their machines. The Honda Racing Vietnam Team, consisting of #65 Cao Viet Nam, #193 Nguyen Duc Thanh (AP250), and #178 Nguyen Anh Tuan and #111 Nguyen Huu Tri (UB150), are determined to overcome these obstacles and achieve the best possible results.

Qualifying race: Starting strong

Despite the challenging weather conditions, the Honda Racing Vietnam Team faced additional difficulties as both Cao Viet Nam (#65) and Nguyen Duc Thanh (#193) crashed during practice sessions just before the race.

Despite their injuries, both riders were determined to compete. Cao Viet Nam secured the 15th starting position out of 24 in the AP250 category with a best lap time of 2:25.622, while Nguyen Duc Thanh started 18th with a best completion time of 2:27.648 in the same category.

Meanwhile, in the UB150 category, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) started in the middle of Row 7 at 21st position out of 26, while 15-year-old Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) began in Row 8 from the 23rd position. Despite the challenges, the team remained optimistic and ready to give their best in the official race.

Race 1 – UB150: Surprising success!

The race started with high anticipation as the riders accelerated off the line. At the end of the first lap, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) maintained his position at 21st out of 26, while Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) found himself at the back of the pack in 25th place.

The race was intense, with constant position changes among the leading riders. As for the Vietnamese riders, their positions remained relatively stable throughout the second and third laps. In the fourth lap, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) dropped to 22nd place, while Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) continued to chase from the back.

As the final lap approached, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) accelerated and climbed back to 20th place, but soon faced fierce competition and dropped to 21st. Just when it seemed like everything was settled, a dramatic turn of events occurred in the last moments of the race.

Approaching turn 15, a competitive curve, an overzealous Indonesian rider, Iqbal Amri (#21), made a miscalculated overtaking maneuver and paid the price. Meanwhile, a few seconds later, a group of riders entered the same curve, resulting in a collision just a few hundred meters from the finish line. Seizing the opportunity, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) cautiously navigated the curve and quickly accelerated to finish in 9th place. This incident also allowed Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) to move up to 18th place after Race 1.

Such unexpected results delighted both Nguyen Anh Tuan and the Honda Racing Vietnam Team. With this achievement, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) brought valuable 7 points to the team, elevating them temporarily to 7th place out of 11 teams in the overall standings.

Race 1 – AP250: Continuous effort

Following the UB150 race, the AP250 riders took to the track. With a powerful start, Cao Viet Nam (#65) quickly gained momentum and overtook several opponents. His teammate, Nguyen Duc Thanh (#193), closely followed behind.

At the end of the first lap, Cao Viet Nam (#65) secured the 13th position out of 24, while Nguyen Duc Thanh (#193) took the 20th position. The race saw technical issues causing an Indian rider (#50) to retire and the leading Thai rider (#20) to slide off the track and end his race prematurely.

Throughout the following laps, Cao Viet Nam (#65) and Nguyen Duc Thanh (#193) held their positions, with Cao Viet Nam climbing to the top 10. By the final lap, Cao Viet Nam finished in 11th place, earning 5 points for the Honda Racing Vietnam Team. Nguyen Duc Thanh persevered and finished in 16th place.

Race 2 – UB150: Consistent performance

On the second day of competitions, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) and Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) started with confidence after their surprising performance in Race 1. Nguyen Anh Tuan made an impressive start, while Nguyen Huu Tri closely followed.

By the end of the first lap, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) held the 22nd position, just ahead of Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) in 23rd place. Technical issues forced riders from the Philippines (#22 and #27) to retire early.

During the third lap, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) swiftly moved up to the 21st position, while Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) maintained his position at 23rd out of 26. At turn 9 of the third lap, the leader (#60) made a mistake and crashed off the track.

As the race progressed, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) climbed to the 19th position, while Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) held his ground in 23rd place. The sixth lap saw Nguyen Anh Tuan dropping to 20th place. Meanwhile, Nguyen Duc Thanh (#193) maintained a steady 17th position.

In the final result of Race 2 in the UB150 category, Nguyen Anh Tuan (#178) and Nguyen Huu Tri (#111) finished in 19th and 20th place, respectively.

Race 2 – AP250: Staying persistent

Following the UB150 race, the AP250 riders took their positions on the track. Cao Viet Nam (#65) started with a powerful acceleration, while Nguyen Duc Thanh (#193) remained close behind.

At the end of the first lap, Cao Viet Nam (#65) had overtaken several opponents and secured the 13th position out of 24, while Nguyen Duc Thanh (#193) dropped to the 20th position. Technical issues caused an Indian rider (#50) to retire, and the leading Thai rider (#20) slid off the track and ended his race early.

As the race progressed, Cao Viet Nam (#65) maintained his position in the top 10, while Nguyen Duc Thanh (#193) gradually improved his position. By the final lap, Cao Viet Nam finished in the 11th place, earning 5 points for the Honda Racing Vietnam Team. Nguyen Duc Thanh crossed the finish line in 16th place.

The Honda Racing Vietnam Team showcased consistent performance and determination throughout the race weekend, further solidifying their position in the championship standings. The team is ready to face more challenges and achieve even better results in the upcoming races.