JPM Integra Cup Malaysia All Set For First Race
Kuala Lumpur, 24 May 2006 – The JPM Integra Cup will take off this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit with its inaugural race, as one of the races in the Malaysain Supercar Series. Race fans will have one more exciting race to watch, as 25 drivers vie for honours on the shortened 2.7 kilometre North Circuit.
The JPM Integra Cup series was launched by Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai in Kuala Lumpur last night. Liow commended the efforts of JPM Motorsports and urged more corporate companies to take similar initiative to support the Government’s effort to develop motorsports in Malaysia.
“Most important is that the series is organized professionally with good safety measures and according to regulations spelt out the sporting authorities. While we support motor racing programmes, safety for the competitors and the spectators is a must. There should not be any compromise,” Liow said.
Initiated by race driver and businessman Chin Jit Pyng, the JPM Integra Cup race is a one-make race involving the Honda Integra DC5 Typr R car. With 226 PS under the hood, and V-TEC engine that screams at 8150 rpm, and capable of intermittent 9000 rpm, it promises to be fun to watch, and on the short circuit, you will be able to see more of the cars and very close quarters racing, especially as all the cars are identical in specifications, run the same brakes and suspension set-up. The cars are all stripped down to reduce weight, and come with roll-over cages and upgraded brakes and suspension.
Fans can also expect to see many thrills and spills, as the drivers are a mixture of absolute novices who would have had, at most ten or twenty laps of free practice on Friday before qualifying and the start of the race over the next two days.
Chin Jit Pyng and his son, TP Chin, both experienced racers themselves will be tussling for the lead with other veterans like Firhat Mokhzani, Farriz Fauzy, Faizal Hakimi Jaafar, 2004 Malaysian Super Series supercar champion, Adam Azman and Tengku Hammam Sulong, who is making a comeback to motor racing.
Chin’s other son, 22-year-old TJ Chin, currently a student in the UK, but already with one year of racing experience would also be on the starting grid. Participating for the first time ever in a race would be 37-year-old Melvinder Singh, a senior manager from an automotive company in Kuala Lumpur. Mel, as he is popularly called, has never raced before, but is known to be quite a terror on the roads, and is reputed to drive his Mercedes S-Class like one would drive a Satria Gti. Also new would be Dato’ Raymond Yap, a businessman, and Tan Kim Wah, who is an artist, and has not raced in the last ten years. It will be interesting to watch the first corner in the race.
The JPM Integra Cup is managed by JP Motorsports; the cars will be prepared and maintained by JPM; all that participants have to do is to pay RM230k for one season of 9 races, and bring along their racing suits, helmets and gloves.
