GRA ready to kickstart 2013 season
Grass Racing Autosports (GRA) will be kick starting the eighth season of its GRA Nationals Autocross Championships this coming weekend at the Shah Alam Stadium Car Park. Since the series started in 2005, GRA has become the longest-running sanctioned autocross series in Malaysia.
The series has attracted a large participation of drivers and the strong support it enjoys is reflected by its lengthy list of partners. Long-time sponsors of the series, namely Red Line Oil, Vanli Genuine Parts, PG Perma Glass, Arospeed, and Gophers GPS return in full force to support the event, and they are joined by a number of new partners, namely Bermaz Motors, Bardahl, Ghee Hiang, Whiteline, Motorsport Playground, Euroscale, Heritage Village and MovieMotion.
Bermaz Motors’ support marks the first direct involvement of an automaker in the series, and Mazda’s full line-up of vehicles will be on display at all GRA races this year.
General Manager for Mazda Ms Lee Ai Hoon said, “Mazda has always been a very young, dynamic and exciting brand. Engineered for the passionate is the DNA of our customers that strive for something beyond a common car, and that separates us from the rest. Reinforcing our brand ID gives us that edge in what we do!”
GRA’s range of partners for 2013 is their biggest line up ever. Ms Low Jian Nin, Head of GRA said, ” We have our long standing partners who have been supporting us since day one, and we are glad that they have stayed with us to help grow the motorsports industry here!”
As an indication of GRA’s clout, the series also boasts a number of drivers backed by sponsorship support. Ivan Khong and his trusty Subaru Impreza will be racing under Red Line Oil and Arospeed’s banner, while his good friend Andy Kow will be sporting the new livery of Bardahl Oil additives. Last season’s Open Class OD Novice winner will be sponsored by TRW Brakes.
GRA would be held in Shah Alam Stadium on the 26th May 2013 from 10am-5pm and spectators watch for free. Ian Khong ambassador for GRA said, “Anyone who has a valid driver’s license and spirit of motorsports is able to join. We aim to keep racing off the streets and wish to keep motorsports achievable by ensuring the races are sanctioned. If a person wishes to see their skills in driving, GRA is a good avenue for any budding race driver!”
GRA’s series contains 5 rounds with a championship. From a grassroot event setup initially, GRA has become the largest series in the motorsports scene for grassroots events. Autocrossing is a time trial event held in large open areas that are lined up with cones to mark a course. Fastest time of the day wins, and GRA splits up the engine capacity of competing cars to equalise the difference in power.
Pictures: Official GRA release.
