With the members from not only Japanese media but also local media in participation, the promoter held a press conference at 11:30AM, June 28th (Sat) local time, the race day of Round 3 of the 2025 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series, the “SUPER GT MALAYSIA FESTIVAL 2025”
Fahrizal Hasan, the Managing Partner of HARO Sports & Entertainment (HARO), the promoter of Malaysian event, Earl Bamber, the team owner of EBM GIGA RACING that fielded 2 wildcard (local special entry) cars, and Masaaki Bandoh, the CEO of GTA, were seated on the stage.
Hasan firstly touched on the SUPER GT event taking place for the first time in 12 years after postponement of the event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then commented on the popularity of the event with a smile on his face, “We had 28,524 people showing up for the qualifying yesterday”. He continued and revealed that he had a ‘big announcement’ on the participation as a wildcard, “In 2026, we are going to have a wildcard car entering in the GT500 for SUPER GT’s Malaysian event. We owe everything to CEO Bandoh of GTA for his effort”. It would obviously be the first time in the history of SUPER GT if it is indeed realized. Details of car and drivers are still not determined, and GTA and HARO will continue their discussion.
CEO Bandoh was next on the microphone and addressed the floor, “We have finally come back to this place. Malaysia is the hub for the motorsports fans in Southeast Asia. We have invited 2 wildcard race cars (GT300 class) this time, and we are going to invite a wildcard in the GT500 class in 2026. I want to make sure we put our feet on the ground and get rooted in here”. Bandoh emphasized that this ‘come-back’ event is only a ‘first step’.
The topic moved on to the wildcard team that was participating in the Malaysian event, and the drivers were introduced by the team owner, Earl Bamber. Also a racing driver, Bamber explained he had seen SUPER GT at Sepang when he was a child and continued, “I am so grateful to take part in SUPER GT as a team owner and have all 4 drivers lined up on the grid. I’m sure we will see a great race on Sunday”. Adrian D Silva / Dorian Boccolacci (No.611 EBM GIGA 911 GT3) and Kerong Li / Jazeman Jaafar （No.333 EBM Vantage GT3） were called out as the driver lineups of Bamber’s team.
In the Q&A session held afterward, Hasan received a question from the floor on the level of attention on SUPER GT in Malaysia. “SUPER GT was very famous in Malaysia from before, but there were already many people who like cars in this country and yearn for Japanese cars. There are also high interests on not only Japanese cars but also Japanese food and culture. We have set up NIHON MATSURI at the back of grandstand for this event to introduce food, beverages, culture, etc. of Japan. Visitors can experience the lifestyle of Japan at a racing circuit this weekend”. Hasan highlighted special events where spectators can fully enjoy SUPER GT as well as Japan in general.
