The Temerloh-born 22-year-old wants to promote Malaysian talent at the international level. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
Formula One world champion Max Verstappen may be the one who comes to mind upon mention of Belgium’s Karting Genk racing track.
Now, it is where Amirul Afiq Mohd Fhakaruddin carries Malaysia’s hopes.
As the 2023 champion of SODI World Series (SWS) Sprint Cup Malaysia, Amirul will take part in the SWS International Finals 2024 at the famed Karting Genk, which starts today.
After two years of training, the 22-year old will become the third Malaysian champion in the SWS International Finals.
Amirul racing at Morac 1 Utama Go Kart Track. — Courtesy photoLast year, Jason Siew and Leona Chin competed in the finals.
Hailing from Temerloh, Pahang, Amirul aims to help raise awareness of Malaysian motorsports talents at the international level.
“My dream is to show the world that Malaysia also has talents, especially in auto racing,” Amirul told reporters when met at Morac 1 Utama Go Kart Track in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
He aims to be among the top five of the 90 racers in the sprint race at Karting Genk’s 1.36km circuit.
“I will also network with team managers in hopes of getting an offer to further his career,” Amirul said of his plans for future gigs.
Karting Genk, also known as the “Home of Champions”, is where three-time world champion Verstappen honed his skills from the age of four.
According to Amirul, who only took up race-karting during his birthday celebrations in 2022, Genk is a technical track that presents plenty of overtaking opportunities.
Racing under the number 27 which is his birth date, Amirul looks up to Verstappen.
He added that he dreams of racing under team AF Corse in the World Endurance Championship under the LMGT3 class.
The SWS is an international karting championship that aims to help amateur drivers pursue their career to higher racing levels.
“It is considered a grassroot series, which gives opportunities to drivers to pursue their talents in GT or Formula racing,” said Amprex Circuit business development manager Imran Zakaria Bahga.
Amprex Circuit is a subsidiary of Amprex International that was established by former racing driver Genji Hashimoto.
Hashimoto won the 2005 Sepang 12 Hours (then known as the Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race) alongside Malaysian Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel and Australian Tony Ricciardello.
Besides the Morac 1 Utama Go Kart Track, Amprex Circuit operates the Morac Adventure Park on Langkawi island in Kedah.
“We’re thrilled to see Amirul carry the Malaysian flag at the international level,” said Hashimoto in a press release.
Morac 1 Utama Go Kart Track was also host to SWS Sprint Cup Malaysia 2024 rounds 5 and 6 in June.
