Latest news with #AzhanShafrimanHanif
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Hakim Danish targets KWASN grant with strong season start
SEPANG: Young national rider, Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli, needs to take up the challenge of achieving as many positive results as possible this season to unlock the 'key' to the National Sports Trust Fund (KWASN) grant from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS). SIC chief executive officer, Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the Terengganu-born rider's career path certainly requires a lot of funds and his team is also working on this matter, including promoting him to the wild card slot in the MotoGP competition. 'It's still early days for the Rookies Cup race, he's only just finished the first round of the race with a double podium finish, so we hope he can maintain his positive momentum until the end of the year. 'SIC will also try to find funds to enter him in the MotoGP in Sepang as a wild card rider,' he said after being met at the Malaysia Touring Car Championship press conference at SIC here today. Azhan Shafriman revealed that SIC has received approximately RM4 million in funds, but it is still not enough to cover the rider's needs to compete in the championship he is participating in. SIC is also working on funds to cover the needs of another talented rider, Qabil Irfan Azlan. Previously, Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh announced that Danish Hakim will have the opportunity to enjoy the grant facility as support for his career journey if he achieves positive results in the two championships he will be participating this season. The Junior GP World Championship and MotoGP Rookies Cup are the arenas for the 17-year-old rider, who is under the management of SIC.
New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
SIC boss hopes homegrown Hakim can boost Malaysian GP turnout
KUALA LUMPUR: Azhan Shafriman Hanif is hoping Hakim Danish Ramli's presence in the Moto3 World Motorcycle Championships - either as a wildcard this year or a full-season rider next season - will help boost ticket sales at the circuit. The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chief executive officer last week confirmed that Hakim, 17, essentially has a seat waiting for him at Frinsa-MT Helmets-MSI for the 2026 season but must hit certain key performance indicators in the Junior GP and Red Bull Rookies series this year to secure it. He said that Hakim could also be given a wildcard to race in Moto3 this season at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia on Oct 24-26. "The goal has always been to put a Malaysian rider back in the world championships as a full-season rider," said Shafriman recently. "Our plan is to get Hakim to race on a wildcard in the Malaysian GP this year but this will depend on his performances this season as well as the funding that is available. "This (wildcard) is to allow us to evaluate his performances when racing against the current Moto3 riders. "We also hope his inclusion in Moto3 will encourage more Malaysians to come out and support him at the Sepang. "We have seen other Asian countries placing their riders in world championships (and boosting race attendances at their home GPs). Hopefully we can do the same here. "We targeted 200,000 fans (over three days) at the Malaysian GP last year but we got 185,000. Hopefully we can achieve that goal this season." The Malaysian GP attracted record crowds over three days for the past two years with 182,912 turning up for the event in 2023 and 184,923 last year. Hakim became the first Malaysian rider to win the Asian Talent Cup title in 2022 and has been dubbed as an "outstanding talent" by former Moto3 rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin. Zulfahmi, via his company ZK Racing, has been overseeing Hakim's development since the latter won the inaugural SIC MiniGP championships in 2020.
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
SIC give touring car championships much needed refresh, turbo era begins
KUALA LUMPUR: In a bid to boost interest and excitement in the competition, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has implemented wholesale changes to the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) and have even changed its name this season. MCS - which is essentially the national championships for touring car racing in Malaysia - has now been rebranded and is called the Malaysia Touring Car Championships (MTCC) this year. The series will run at Sepang from May 2-Sep 7 (four rounds). SIC have placed a greater emphasis on clearer vehicle classification and have also allowed for turbocharged cars to compete this season. For the 2025 season, only race-prepped production model based cars will be allowed to compete. Newer models such as the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ also have their own class to compete in. This is to open up the championships to new talent. The Touring Production class will this season feature a single-driver format while in the MT2 category, Grade A drivers will face pit stop penalties to make the racing more balanced and exciting for competitors and spectators alike. SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif is hoping the changes make the series more exciting. "We are not just changing the name, we are positioning the championships for bigger and better things," said Shafriman recently. "I believe this new format will make the racing even more intense and exciting for both drivers and fans. "We had a record 67 entries last year and are hoping to have 80 cars on the grid (this season)." The series began as the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) in 2002 before being rebranded as MCS in 2015. The series, however, struggled to attract fans over the past decade. The introduction of turbocharged cars comes as no surprise as many modern production cars use smaller capacity engines with turbochargers to improve fuel consumption and meet emissions regulations. HI-REV Dream Chaser won a hat-trick of MCS titles from 2022-2024 and it will be interesting to see if they can continue their dominance this season.\
The Star
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
SIC: Hakim on right track to see action in next season's Moto3
PETALING JAYA: Hakim Danish Ramli ( pic ) is on the right track to compete in next season's Moto3 category of the World Motorcycle Championship through his collaboration with team MT Helmets, said Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif. However, Azhan said Hakim would have to work hard to guarantee his spot. Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/month RM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only
