HAFIZH SYAHRIN AND AFIQ IKHWAN IS MALAYSIA’S TOP MOTORSPORTS PERSONALITY
SEPANG, 27th January 2018 - Malaysia’s Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah and three-time Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Champion, Afiq Ikhwan Yazid have been hailed as the country’s best performer in motorsports as dynamic duo took top honours at the Shell SIC Motorsports Association of Malaysia Awards 2017 here this evening.
Hafizh, who brought pride and joy to the nation with two sensational podium finishes including a second place in San Marino last season, was named as Shell International Rider of the Year. He also took home the Malaysia Motorsports People’s Choice Award as voted online by fans worldwide.
At the glittering ceremony held at Sama-Sama Hotel, the 23-year old Hafizh, who will be riding for SIC Racing Team this season, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Hanifah Yoong and Oh Kah Beng.
Afiq Ikhwan – the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Champion for 2015, 2016 and 2017, took home the Shell International Driver of the Year award with Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) Touring Production champion, Mitchell Cheah winning the local accolade for the four-wheel category.
The National Rider of the Year award was won by Mohd Aiman Tahiruddin, who won the 250cc Open Cup in the Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSBK) last season after a close battle with Singapore’s Muhammad Jazil Juraimi.
Malaysia’s Moto3 rider, Muhammad Adam Norrodin, who was 17th overall last season with 42 world championship points, was named as the Most Improved Rider of the Year with single-seater driver Nazim Azman, who currently competes in the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship, as the Most Improved Driver of the Year.
Malaysia’s aspiring Formula 1 driver Nabil Jeffri, who competes in the FIA Formula 2 World Championship, was accorded the KBS Motorsports Development Award.
The panel of judges also selected Johor-based R-Engineering as the Best Team for the 4-wheel category with HKM Timesbike, which featured Malaysia’s top riders with the likes of MBSK Superbike champion Muhammad Farid Badrul Hisam and Mohd Ramdan Rosli, taking the honours for two-wheels.
Organised for the second year as an effort to provide recognition and to honour the efforts and sacrifices of Malaysia’s motorsports fraternity, the Awards, which is driven by Shell, SIC and MAM, gathers motorsports icon nationwide especially those who contributed to a hugely successful 2017 with SIC.
Speaking at the ceremony, Datuk Iain Lo Chairman of Shell Malaysia said, “We would like to congratulate all the award winners, especially Hafizh Syahrin and Afiq Ikhwan on their win as the Shell International Rider of the Year & Shell International Driver of the Year. A special thank you to all the partners who made the awards night a success. Let us continue to work together, in bringing another adrenaline filled Shell Malaysia MotoGP 2018 for our raving fans.”
Attended by more than 400 motorsports enthusiasts, the ceremony also featured an array of automotive display with the cars and bikes.
SIC MAM SAM MEDIA AWARD (BEST JOURNALIST):
SIC MAM SAM MEDIA AWARD (BEST PHOTOGRAPHER):
SIC MAM SAM MEDIA AWARD (BEST ELECTRONIC):
Adam Abdul Karim Zamri & Mohd Irsyahdi Tumian - Astro Arena
BEST TEAM OF YEAR (2 WHEELS):
BEST TEAM OF THE YEAR (4 WHEELS):
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER OF THE YEAR:
MOST IMPROVED RIDER OF THE YEAR:
NATIONAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR:
NATIONAL RIDER OF THE YEAR:
KBS MOTORSPORTS DEVELOPMENT AWARD:
MALAYSIA MOTORSPORTS PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD:
SHELL INTERNATIONAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR:
SHELL INTERNATIONAL RIDER OF THE YEAR:
For more information, please contact SIC National Press Officer Nor Lina Ayob at norlina.ayob@sepangcircuit.com
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