logo
Vios Challenge joins Super GT weekend lineup at Sepang

Vios Challenge joins Super GT weekend lineup at Sepang

KUALA LUMPUR: Vios Challenge, the popular one-make series, is set to make its international event debut as a support race for the Malaysian round of the Autobacs Super GT at Sepang Circuit on June 26-28.
The Vios Challenge will feature a special one-hour race format for the event instead of its usual 30-minute format.
The race will feature three categories - Super Sporting, for professional drivers, Sporting (amateur) and Rookie Class (young development drivers).
The Vios Challenge is currently in its eighth season and is one of the most accessible grassroots racing platforms in Malaysia.
UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ravindran Kurusamy said the series has played an important role in driving talent development in Malaysia.
"The Vios Challenge has served as a proven springboard for local talent, and to now have our drivers compete on the same stage as international teams at Super GT marks a defining milestone," said Ravindran in a statement released today (June 9).
"Looking ahead, Toyota intends to broaden our motorsports footprint by establishing a clearer progression path for our Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Rookies, enabling their natural graduation into higher-level racing categories.
"Plans are underway to form Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia (TGRMY), a factory racing team to participate in regional motorsport series to strengthen Malaysia's presence in the sport."
The Vios Challenge is one of two support races for the Super GT weekend at Sepang, the other being the GR86 Cup Malaysia Series.
UMW Toyota Malaysia and TGR Malaysia are the title sponsor for the Malaysian round of Super GT which is making its return to Malaysian soil this year after a 12-year hiatus.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UMS to expand reach via Bursa secondary listing
UMS to expand reach via Bursa secondary listing

The Star

time35 minutes ago

  • The Star

UMS to expand reach via Bursa secondary listing

An SGX sign at the Singapore Stock Exchange. — Reuters KUALA LUMPUR: Slated to be listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on Aug 1, high-precision engineering and manufacturing company UMS Integration Ltd – currently listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange (SGX) – says it will continue to expand its role within the semiconductor and aerospace value chains. Chief executive officer Andy Luong said the Singapore-headquartered company's impending secondary listing will enhance the group's visibility across the South-East Asian region and boost its position as an integrated service provider for global chip companies. 'Within the semiconductor space, we see opportunities in manufacturing high-precision components used in advanced packaging solutions, which play a vital role in enabling next-generation artificial intelligence and high-performance computing applications,' he said at a press briefing here yesterday. Given current global trade tensions, Luong added that Malaysia and Singapore are well-positioned to benefit from various outsourcing opportunities. 'We have the resources to serve the people as well, ' he said. Executive director, group financial controller and senior vice-president of operations Stanley Loh Meng Chong said Malaysia is a suitable place for the company's secondary listing due to several factors, including its plant located in Penang. He said UMS had pursued a dual listing in South Korea in 2010, but the plan fell through after the stock exchange regulators clamped down on overseas secondary listings following a fraud case involving a Chinese company. Loh added that Malaysia 'is a better place to raise funds and grow the business.' He believes that UMS is better run compared to its Malaysian peers, with stronger profit margins and dividend yields. 'In Singapore, typically our valuations are lower. We hope that by coming to Malaysia, it will help us to be valued more fairly versus our peers,' Loh said. UMS yesterday issued its prospectus for the secondary listing, which will be undertaken by way of introduction and will not involve any issuance or offering of shares. UMS shares will be fully fungible, meaning shareholders can transfer their shares between the SGX Mainboard and Bursa Malaysia's Main Market for trading. TA Securities Holdings Bhd is the principal adviser, while CGS International Securities Malaysia is the financial adviser for the exercise. At last look, UMS's market capitalisation was approximately S$945mil (equivalent to about RM3.13bil). It recorded revenue of S$242.1mil for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2024, while profit after tax stood at S$40.6mil, translating into a margin of 16.8%.

Malaysia's manufacturing edges closer to stabilisation in 1H25 - S&P500
Malaysia's manufacturing edges closer to stabilisation in 1H25 - S&P500

The Star

time35 minutes ago

  • The Star

Malaysia's manufacturing edges closer to stabilisation in 1H25 - S&P500

KUALA LUMPUR: Business conditions in the Malaysian manufacturing sector moved closer to stabilisation at the end of the first half of 2025, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. In a note today, the firm said the latest S&P Global Malaysia manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) reading suggests that the modest growth seen in official gross domestic product (GDP) statistics in the first quarter of 2025 was sustained into the second quarter. "The data also suggests that the expansion in manufacturing production continued throughout the second quarter,' it said. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global Malaysia manufacturing PMI rose to 49.3 in June, up from 48.8 in May. S&P Global economist Usamah Bhatti said June data indicated a gradual move towards stabilisation in the health of the Malaysian manufacturing sector, although operating conditions remained challenging. "Firms recorded sustained, albeit softer, moderations in demand and production - the softest in four months. Most encouragingly, firms raised their employment levels for the first time since last September. "That said, concerns were raised on the price front, with manufacturers recording the steepest increase in input prices for seven months. "In response, firms lifted their charges to the greatest extent in nearly a year in a bid to protect margins,' he said in a statement today. According to S&P Global, there was also a softer reduction in new export orders, while businesses signalled a renewed rise in employment during June. "Business confidence, meanwhile, was positive but remained well below the series average. "On the price front, input cost inflation gathered pace from May to reach the highest in seven months. In turn, firms signalled the strongest rise in output charges since August 2024,' it said. - Bernama

Maybank continues prioritising employee welfare
Maybank continues prioritising employee welfare

The Star

time36 minutes ago

  • The Star

Maybank continues prioritising employee welfare

Maybank president and group CEO Datuk Khairussaleh Ramli PETALING JAYA: All employees of Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) are earning above RM3,100 a month, according to the largest banking group of Malaysia. Maybank said its employees' salaries are above the living-wage threshold, as benchmarked against the Employees Provident Fund's (EPF) Belanjawanku Guide. In a statement, the bank said it remains fully aligned with the Ekonomi Madani framework, especially the 'Raise the Floor' pillar, and will continue working alongside government-linked investment companies and the relevant stakeholders under the GEAR-uP programme to drive shared prosperity and a future-ready Malaysian workforce. Datuk Khairussaleh Ramli said the commitment is aligned to its purpose of being a values-based platform, powered by a workforce that humanises financial services and underscores long-standing commitment to fair, inclusive and sustainable pay practices. 'At Maybank, we believe that the welfare and wellbeing of employees, including fair and decent pay is not only a moral imperative, but also a business enabler. Ensuring that all our employees earn a competitive and sustainable wage is fundamental to building a resilient and future-ready workforce. It reflects our deep commitment to shared prosperity and the value of the Ekonomi Madani framework,' the Maybank president and group chief executive added. Maybank has implemented a comprehensive suite of structural and targeted initiatives to ease its lower-income employees' daily burdens and enhance financial security. These include festival aid, interest-free loans and access to a staff welfare fund for urgent medical or disaster-related needs. The bank also provides strong support for working families through an allowance for childcare and maternity care. In addition, employees' children enjoy annual back-to-school support and financial aid for those pursuing tertiary studies. To promote flexibility and personalisation, employees are also given options to optimise their benefits, such as converting Employees Provident Fund contributions for medical coverage or repurposing dental and optical allocations for digital-related expenses. Additionally, Khairussaleh said Maybank remains steadfast in creating a safe, enabling and inclusive workplace for all its employees, while providing a comprehensive and competitive suite of benefits designed to support the holistic wellbeing of its employees. For career development, the bank has put in place structured reskilling and upskilling programmes to empower its employees with relevant capabilities which include access to curated digital learning platforms, industry-recognised certifications and skills pathways aligned with internal mobility and career advancement. 'These initiatives contribute directly to the nation's objectives towards workforce resilience, social mobility, and the development of high-quality jobs,' Khairussaleh explained.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store