Mission Accomplished

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It’s amazing how things happen when you least expect it. Against all odds Team 1Malaysia FXPRIMUS Aylezo took the chequered flag in second place after a dramatic Gulf 12 Hours race.
 

 
Drivers Hiqmar Danial and Jazeman Jaafar had to nurse a car that had niggling problems and at the last two hours, a gearbox problem cropped up.
 
“I don’t know how the gearbox is holding up, if one bearing gives way the whole car will just come to a standstill,” said Team owner Zen Low two hours before the end of the race.
 

 
Earlier though the car seemed to have it all together and was even beginning to chip away at the lead the first car, an Aston Martin Vantage GT4, had built up. But ultimately the distance was just too much and the team took a well-deserved podium step.
 
A series of reliability issues had forced the team to call the Lotus 2-Eleven back into the pits a number of times throughout the race, and at one point an engine misfire forced the car to pit for close to an hour.
 

 
Both drivers then resorted to taking matters into their own hands and after exchanging notes on which part of the circuit they could best shave off time from the front runners, the pair got down to what they do best. At one point, both drivers were lapping close to five seconds faster than the leading Aston Martin.
 

 
Just for the record, Team 1Malaysia FXPRIMUS Aylezo were the only team on the grid that had two drivers as third driver Zen Low was forced to sit out after some issues cropped up regarding his racing license. Both Jazeman who is 19 and Hiqmar, 17, also happen to be the youngest drivers in the race.
 

 
So for the team to take a podium step when all odds seemed to be stacked up against them is something that no one here would soon forget.
 

 
We’re back at the hotel room after a long day and tomorrow our long journey back to Malaysia begins. At least we will have good memories to speak about, and trophies to show off.
 
by Keshy Dhillon