THE
SEARCH FOR MALAYSIA’S NEXT RALLY CHAMPION
Kuala Lumpur, 6th May, 2008
– The search for the next Malaysian Rally Champion
is on! Wheel Sport
Management (WSM), Malaysia’s leading motor rally promoter
and organizer of the Malaysian Rally Championship (MRC)
is launching a reality television programme to find the
next rally star team - driver and co-driver.
To be aired in five episodes throughout
2008, “Malaysia’s Next Rally Champion, 5,4,3,2,1…
from Zero to Hero” is the brainchild of WSM’s
Managing Director, YM Raja Nor Mazli Binti Raja Tun Mohar.
“We have seen a growing interest
in motor rallying in Malaysia over the past few years, especially
among the younger generation. So we see a need to develop
rallying in Malaysia at the grass-roots level. We want to
create a new pool of young drivers and co-drivers in order
to sustain the sport. We hope, by investing in this programme
we can raise the awareness of rallying and the MRC and bring
in more young talented drivers and co-drivers who will remain
committed to this exciting sport,” said Raja Mazli.
“Malaysia’s Next Rally
Champion” will see the participants develop their
driving and navigation skills and technical knowledge to
a level at which they would feel comfortable and confident
to compete in the Malaysian Rally Championship 2009.
“Once WSM has given these young
men and women the basic knowledge of rallying, we hope that
the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as the private
sector will continue to invest in their futures as rally
drivers and co-drivers,” added Raja Mazli.
WSM aims to attract a maximum of 15
teams (driver and co-driver) to the programme who will undergo
a series of theory and practical training workshops.
Unlike other reality TV shows there
is no elimination process. Instead, each team will compete
for points and the team with the most points at the end
of Round 6 of the MRC 2008 will emerge victorious and take
home attractive prizes. The winners will be announced in
December 2008.
Raja Mazli said WSM is working to
secure a car sponsor for the programme and hopes that the
grand prize will be a vehicle which could possibly be transformed
into a rally car in which the winners could compete in the
2009 MRC. Significant prize money will also be up for grabs.
The judging panel for the programme
will include Raja Mazli, WSM Director and Founder, Tengku
Shaharin Abu Bakar Almarhum Tengku Suleiman and guest judges
from the industry, including, among others, veteran driver
Saladin Mazlan and co-driver Douglas Pickering.
WSM has also contacted current drivers
and co-drivers in the MRC asking them to lend their support
and experience to the young hopefuls.
WSM anticipates members of existing
motor sports and car owners’ clubs will sign up to
be the next stars. “Rallying is a disciplined sport.
It is a lot of fun but commitment is required,” said
Raja Mazli. “We want to attract participants who are
serious about making the most of this opportunity which
is why we think this will appeal to those who are already
club members. They have a passion for cars and driving.”
Potential rally stars can download
entry forms from the MRC website: www.malaysianrally.com
or call Encik Kurnia (WSM) 019 644 8020 or Encik Zubir (Total
Sports Asia) 019 325 5449.
<< Back
|
