TOYOTA GAZOO RACING MALAYSIA /
GR YOUNG TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Every child is unique in their own way and some are born with a certain drive. With the right guidance, careful and proper nurture, that drive is the first ingredient one needs on the journey to becoming a champion.
GR Rookies is an exciting new program by Toyota to develop the best talents across the country and propel grassroots racing to the pro stage. This program is designed from the ground up not only to ignite their drive, but to make sure their drive stays aflame bigger and brighter than ever before.
WATCH THEIR JOURNEY /
GR YOUNG TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM JOURNEY
TGR TRAINING PROGRAM /
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Enter the TGR Training Program which covers core aspects of becoming a professional driver. The Juniors will hone their race-craft, fitness, nutrition, and but not least, their psychology
EXEPRIENCE COMPETITION /
RACING OPPORTUNITIES
In tandem with the main TGR Festival, the program will alow the talents to experience competition in street-circuits. And of course, Sepang will be the talents training grounds as they compete MSF/MCS Championships as they hone their race craft
MEET THE ROOKIES/
OUR GR YOUNG DRIVERS
GR YOUNG DRIVER
AMER HARRIS
| IG handle: | @amerhrris |
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| Age: | 17 yrs old |
How did you start racing?
Started racing professionally in the ART Talent Cup Asia Series, started driving from funkarting in the Shah Alam go kart track.
Who is your biggest influence/idol that made you want to start racing?
No one, it was just myself who wanted to prove who I actually am on the track.
What drives/motivates you to become a better racer?
Sasakorn “Cutter” Chaimongkol from Thailand
Where do you see yourself in 5 - 10 years?
The furthest target of the timeframe would be a Nurburgring 24h Race Winner, but logically I would want to end up in Super GT.
What’s your motto in life?
It’s not worth trying if it isn’t for you
Top 3 achievements
- 25th in 2019 Rotax World Finals amongst 100+ drivers across the globe
- 2018 Rotax Asia Senior Max Champion
- 2019 IAME Series Asia Vice Champion
GR YOUNG DRIVER
PUTERA ADAM
| IG handle: | @putera.adam25 |
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| Age: | 14 yrs old |
How did you start racing?
I first got into a gokart when I was seven, and I started racing when I was eight. I woke up one day and my dad asked me if I wanted to try go karting; I went for my first test and fell in love with the sport ever since.
Who is your biggest influence/idol that made you want to start racing?
Without a doubt my father. I went to countless races when I was at an early age to watch my dad race. He’s always been a huge inspiration to me, and the older I become, the more I realise that I’m becoming a better driver.
What drives/motivates you to become a better racer?
Racing is undoubtedly one of the most expensive sports out there. My parents have spent a significant amount of money for me to pursue my passion, and I want to make them proud and show them that their money and effort has not gone to waste. I don’t want to let them down.
Where do you see yourself in 5 - 10 years?
I see myself studying, whilst racing in Europe for a factory team.
What’s your motto in life?
“A mistake that makes you humble is better than an achievement that leaves you arrogant”. This is my motto in life. I was brought up in a way that taught me that no matter what I achieve, I must always be humble.
Top 3 achievements
- Rotax Asia Overall Champion 2014 (Cadet)
- 3rd in WSK Super Master Series Round 1 2016 ( Cadet )
- X30 Asia Overall Champion 2019 (Junior)
These are my top three achievements, in no particular order. They are definitely the greatest achievements in my career and the ones that I’m most proud of.
GR YOUNG DRIVER
TROY EIMANN
| IG handle: | @troyeimann |
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| Age: | 16 yrs old |
How did you start racing?
I was really interested in motorsports and the passion for racing behind it, I started to practice every week in a rental kart back in August 2018 to gain experience before I decided to step up the level and race, I first started racing 125cc karts in November 2018 in the KRD (Kart Racing Development) to get the feel of racing with other people, a club community race that takes place every month with different categories combined such as 125cc Junior, Senior and the open category. When I started racing more competitively, it would be the start of 2020, where I joined a professional karting team (Stratos Motorsports) and participated in the RMC invitational race, then Round 1 & Round 2, however with the current COVID 19 situation I was not able to participate in any of the other rounds during the season.
Who is your biggest influence/idol that made you want to start racing?
My biggest influence would most probably be Michael Schumacher, I was inspired by him mostly by watching him race F1, possessing the most titles and most wins of all time certainly proved him to be the best on the grid, and I thought I should give racing a try because I was very interested in it and I felt that I could achieve many great things after watching Schumacher race and gain many victories during his time.
What drives/motivates you to become a better racer?
Failure and discouragement motivates me to become a better racer, the more I get told about how I can’t achieve this, or I won’t be able to win it, it continues to help me thrive for greatness and to continue improving by training and focusing on becoming a better racer, also if I fail, I learn from my mistakes and carry on by not thinking about the past as it would affect my mentality by causing me to overthink often.
Where do you see yourself?
In 5 – 10 years Hopefully driving the GT cars in the GT World Challenge, if all goes well, I think this would be achievable in 5-10 years but anything could happen so I’m not too sure which path I will take and where would it lead me in a few years time.
What’s your motto in life?
“Do it with passion or not at all”
Top 3 achievements
- RMC Round 2 – P6
- ERGP ACC 4 Hour Endurance – P3
GR YOUNG DRIVER
JWAN HII
| IG handle: | @jwanhii |
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| Age: | 18 yrs old |
How did you start racing?
As far back as my memory takes me, I’ve always had a deep passion for motor vehicles. When I was younger, I’d get on my PSP to go racing. From there on I started watching TV series such as top gear, fifth gear, etc. These factors developed my passion for racing further.
At the age of 13, I ventured into karts and honed my skills as a racing driver. It is without a doubt that karting has grown my ever so loving passion for racing more than ever. A few years down the line in 2020, I got a buzz from Toyota to be part of the Gazoo Racing Team which I am truly grateful for.
Here I am, 5 years since it all started; graduating into saloon car racing with no other than the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Team.
Who is your biggest influence/idol that made you want to start racing?
Michael Schumacher is and always will be one of the all-time greats in my books. Ever since I was little, I would cheer him on; a fanboy of sorts. It is without a doubt he is one of the biggest influence on me.
What drives/motivates you to become a better racer?
The desire to reach self-actualisation, pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. As the saying goes – “Eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground”
Where do you see yourself in 5 - 10 years?
In the span of time, I would see myself as a Bachelor’s degree holder in Information Technology in Business Management. Alongside that, I hope to be able to have a healthy balance between my racing career and my studies.
As for my racing career, hopefully, I’ll be able to venture out to a seat in touring cars in Europe or wherever a drive brings me.
What’s your motto in life?
I live by the saying – What you can do today, improves all your tomorrows.
Top 3 achievements
One of the highlights I’ve looked upon is competing in the IAME Super Shifter Category, finishing on the podium on my first ever race. It sure was a tough and memorable one for me, getting behind the wheel after being out of a kart for 6 months.
Furthermore, crossing the line in 3rd for the 4 hour endurance race of eRacing GP Asia was another standout. This was a ” different ” one to me as it was my first ever E-Race experience going up against some of the best sim drivers in Asia.
GR YOUNG DRIVER
NAQUIB AZLAN
| IG handle: | @naquib_azlan |
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| Age: | 20 yrs old |
How did you start racing?
I am hugely passionate about cars and racing ever since I was little boy. The dream was to one day become a racing driver. Although I didn’t have the facilities to pursue real life racing.
I would always play a lot of racing video games from Sega rally championship to Gran Turismo on the Playstation. This year(2020) as sim racing became more serious I decided to start racing professionally and competitively in tournaments against the best in the region.
Who is your biggest influence/idol that made you want to start racing?
My biggest influence for me to go racing was probably my dad and my brothers. All of them loved racing and having them around made me want to compete against them and ultimately beat them. In terms of racing driver it is Sebastian Vettel, watching him win as I was growing up motivated me to do the same.
What drives/motivates you to become a better racer?
My motivation to become a better racer has to be the strive for perfection. Whether that is from driving, car setup or even understanding the sport better, there is always something to gain and improve so I know there is always something new for me to learn and make myself better.
Where I see myself in 5-10 years?
Hopefully I would’ve showed and proved to Toyota I am worthy of where I am and I would be racing with Toyota at an international level (ie. Japan Super GT).
What’s your motto in life?
My motto in life is ‘Never Stop Believing’. Based on experience, I’ve had people constantly question my passion for racing and not believing I would reach a professional level so never listen to the negativity and always believe in yourself.
Top 3 achievements
- Signed By TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.
- Represented Malaysia in the Official ACO 24Hour Virtual Le Mans
- 2x First Runner up Champion in the ERGP GLOBAL EDITION
GR YOUNG DRIVER
MIKA HAKIMI
| IG handle: | @mikahakimi |
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| Age: | 17 yrs old |
How did you start racing?
I’ve been in love with motorsports since I was a little kid and always had a love for cars. When I was 9 my dad let me try a rental kart for fun and I really loved it and wanted to do more, but that was about all I could do because I didn’t really have the funding the do karting professionally. Then, in March 2019 I got picked up by Blue Steel Racing to join their simracing team and built up my skills from there.
Who is your biggest influence/idol that made you want to start racing?
Kimi Raikkonen. I grew up watching him and always loved watching him race in F1. Until today he remains my favorite driver.
What drives/motivates you to become a better racer?
My goal is to be a professional racing driver and I want to achieve my dream of driving at Le Mans. That is my main goal and I want to prove to myself that I can do it no matter what. I don’t have anything that I want to show to other people, I want to achieve my own dreams.
Where I see myself in 5-10 years?
Either in some of the Formula Feeder Series or GT Racing
What’s your motto in life?
A lot of the obstacles you face in life are put there by yourself. Once you get past these, you’ll realise how easy and care-free life can actually be.
Top 3 achievements
- Competed against 50 F1 drivers and pro-drivers in Virtual Le Mans 24 Hours against for Malaysia with Axle Motorsport
- Playbox F1 Drivers’ Champion
- 3 podiums (so far) out of 4 races in E1 Championship
