2009 Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race Trophy Unveiling

In traditional metal gifts, gold represents 50 years, for 25 years its silver but not many people know that ten years is represented with tin, as in “tin” years.

Fitting correlation to the Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race MMER as this year it’s the tenth anniversary of the biggest race in South East Asia.

This year’s trophy was inspired by a car’s speedometer, with the three parts representing three drives working in sync to win the race.

The speedometer motif is in pewter with a combination of satin & brilliant finish, and gold plating. There are 27 plaques all together for categories O, A1 and A2.

The MMER started in the year 2000, initiated by the late Tan Sri Basir Ismail as another way to celebrate Merdeka hence the name.

It featured 55 cars to a grid that can safely fit 77 cars allowed by FIA. That quickly changed in 2001 when the race started with a full grid.

The race format is simple, two or a maximum of three drivers take turns to complete the most number of laps as possible on the 5.543km long Sepang International Circuit in a 12 hour time limit.

Previously the 77 slots were broken down to four categories, class O for the super cars and such, class A cars such as the Civic Type R, class B popular with Satria GTi and the smallest class C for cars such as Honda Civics and Protons.

This year as the tenth year of the race, a major change have been made to the classes, the “slower” classes, B and C have been moved to a separate race by itself, the Sepang 1000km race.

This opens up the numbers of cars that can join the race in the O and A classes, which not only means more super cars on the starting grid but also a safer race.

In addition to the additional slots available, the class A will be split into two, A1 and A2, to separate between production supercars as A1 (Group B or GT4 or non FIA homologated production sports) and production sports and saloon cars in A2 (Group N and Group A or non FIA homologated Touring Cars).

So far there are 46 team that have confirmed their entry, from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Japan and Australia.

The teams are racing in cars such as BMW 3 Series, Lotus Exige and 2-Eleven, Toyota Altezza, Honda Civic, Integra, S2000, Mini Cooper and on top of the “food chain” the Porsches, Dodge Viper, Ginetta, Aston Martin, Mosler and Marcos.

Starting early on raceday morning there will be programs for the kids such as colouring contest ages 4 to 12, kids traditional dance competition, showtime with Fatin Nurafifah and quizzes with loads of prizes to be won.

For the fruit fanatics don’t miss this chance to sample some local fruits and there will also be food tasting booths at the Mall Area.

There will also be special vehicles on display such as the Petronas tanker, Police vehicles from the fast Mitsubishi EVO “Helang” and bikes. To add more excitement 57 cars from four car clubs such as Lotus Car Club Malaysia and Waja Club will park their cars for display at the mall area.

Entrance is free, for more information please log on to sepangcircuit.com.my