Merdeka Millennium Endurance 2004 – Fast Facts

THE CHALLENGE

To survive the 12 hours of grueling challenge of non stop racing and to secure the most number of laps around the world famous F1 racing circuit.

RACE FORMAT

Three drivers to a car and they take turns accordingly to the race regulations to complete 12 hours of non stop racing around the 5.543-km Sepang Circuit. Each driver can only drive a maximum of 75 minutes per session and they must rest at least two-thirds of the driving time before resuming the race. The maximum cumulative driving time for each driver is 5 hours.

Only those who completed the 12-hour period will be classified. Flag-off for the 2004 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race will be at 12 noon, Saturday, August 28, 2004.

THE CATEGORIES

CLASS O – The open class and grouping the Super Touring 2000 Cars; N-GT cars; GT cars and National Series Production Cars above 1900cc.

CLASS A – Group N Cars; Group A Cars above 1900cc; Group B Cars; Group B cars; Super Production Cars and National Series Production Cars above 1900cc.

CLASS B – Group N Cars between 1601cc – 1900cc; Group A Cars between 1601cc to 1900cc and the National Series Production Cars 1601cc to 1900cc.

CLASS C – Group N Cars 1600cc; Group A Cars 1600cc and National Series Production Cars 1600cc.

QUALFYING FORMAT

All teams will need to qualify and only the fastest 77 will start according to the quota in their respective classes – 25 from Class O and A, 26 from Class B and 26 from Class C.

THE PRIZES

CLASS O – Winners take RM30,000 and trophies. First runners-up take RM15,000 plus trophies and third placed winners take RM7,500 plus trophies. The fourth, fifth and sixth placed winners win tickets for the 2005 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

CLASS A – Winners also take RM30,000 and trophies. First runners-up take RM15,000 plus trophies and third placed winners take RM7,500 plus trophies. The fourth, fifth and sixth placed winners win tickets for the 2005 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

CLASS B – Winners take RM25,000 and trophies. First runners-up take RM10,000 plus trophies and third placed winners take RM6,000 and trophies. The fourth, fifth and sixth placed winners win tickets for the 2005 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

CLASS C – Winners take RM20,000 and trophies. First runners-up take RM7,500 plus trophies and third placed winners take RM5,000 and trophies. The fourth, fifth and sixth placed winners win tickets for the 2005 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

OVERALL – The overall winners take home the Merdeka Millennium Endurance challenge trophy and the grand title of champions of Malaysia’s most prestigious and most challenging motor racing event.

THE COMPETITORS

Previous participants of the Merdeka Millennium Endurance race include drivers from the Japan GT Championship, international drivers with racing experience in the British Touring Car Championship, Formula Nippon, Asian Touring Car Championship, Formula BMW, Formula 2000 and all of Malaysia’s top drivers including ex-Formula One driver Alex Yoong and celebrities like Deanna Yusoff and Maznah Zulkifli.

PAST WINNERS

2000 Karamjit Singh, Tommy Lee and Jimmy Low (Petronas EON Racing Team)
2001 Jeffrey Wong, Admi Shahrol and Tommy Lee (TVR Sports Malaysia)
2002 Tengku Hammam, Nigel Albon, Tommy Lee (NAZA Jaseri Racing Team)
2003 Firhat Mokhzani, Eric Yeo, Chin Tzer Jinn (G1 Meritus Racing)