Melvin Choo Tries His Hands In 2009 Super GT

ThunderAsia Racing Team enters the race with Mosler MT900R with factory backing from Mosler Automative

SINGAPORE, 16 June 2009 - Melvin Choo is joining the Malaysian round of 2009 Super GT (2009 Autobacs Super GT Round 4 Super GT International Series Malaysia), which will be held from the 20 to 21 June 2009 at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

Having raced on SIC in a few races like the recent Aston Martin Asia and Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME) race, he is confident it will make a significant difference in his chances of winning here in Sepang.

"It's not really an advantage but more of an even playing field; I'm not familiar with the circuits where the rest of the Super GT rounds take place in Japan so it'll be a disadvantage to me to join the other rounds."

According to Melvin the opportunity to join the Super GT came to him last year but there was not enough time to prepare for it.

Melvin will be entering the race in the GT 300 class (limited to 300hp) using a specially prepared Mosler MT900R under ThunderAsia Racing team with factory backing from Mosler Automotive.

"This car is a lot faster and more aggressive compared to the other race cars I have raced with. Even though the rules cap the horse power to 300 for a close race, there is still room to tune the car to its full potential and this makes a huge difference in all its performance variables."

"If all goes well I might even make it to the other rounds of the Super GT race but for now I'll make it a point to join the 'local' round annually".

Melvin Choo will be partnering with experienced endurance racer and current Mosler works driver Martin Short.

The Super GT International Series Malaysia is for round 4 of the Super GT Championship. It features production cars split into two categories, GT 500 and GT 300 (500hp and 300hp respectively) but racing at the same time making it one of the most exciting race series to watch.

34 teams including ThunderAsia Racing will be blazing around the circuit for 54 laps on Sunday 21 June. There will also be supporting races from Formula V6 Asia, GT3 Asia and Aston Martin Cup Asia.

In between, motorsports fans will also be treated with off track entertainment, such as appearance of the Super GT ambassadors, GT race queens Sana Yuki and Nana Shibata, plus more than 50 race queens accompanying the teams, drift demos, GT look-a-like cars on display and performance by Dragon Red. Parents with children can bring their kids for the Kids Pit Walk programme on Saturday after the second qualifying session. This offer is free for all kids with their parents.

Tickets of the Main Grandstand can be purchase at only RM100. SIC is also offering a special family package at RM250 for four Main Grandstand ticket. Children below seven years old are admitted free. Passes for Sunday's Pit Walkabout are sold at RM100 while parking charges for bikes at RM2, cars at RM5 and bus at RM20.

For more information about Melvin Choo, please visit www.melvinchoo.com. For more information about SuperGT Championship 2009, please visit http://supergt.net/en/ and http://www.sepangcircuit.com/story/super-gt-super-gt-championship-2009-malaysia

Images for download:
Melvin Choo and Mosler MT900R
Melvin Choo and Mosler MT900R
Mosler MT900R
Sana Yuki and Nana Shibata and Mosler
(from left), Masaaki Bandoh, CEO, GT Association; Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali, CEO, Sepang International Circuit; Melvin Choo, ThunderAsia Racing; Karl Darulwalia, Singapore MotorSports Association.
Mosler MT900R

About Melvin Choo Kwok Ming
Melvin Choo (car number: 69) is the first Singaporean race driver to achieve a remarkable feat of chalking up 30 race participations in 2008, with a total of 7 victories, 8 podium finishes and 5 pole positions in three different cars, Aston Martin, BMW and Porsche, representing accomplishment through expertise. Becoming the Class B winner in the JPM Integra Championship in Malaysia, jumpstart his racing career in Asia in 2006. In 2007, Melvin took part in some of the most prominent races in Asia; FIA Asia Touring Car Series (FIA ATCS), where he finished second in Division 2 and third overall, FIA Asian Touring Car Cup, where he finished second overall and awarded the fastest front wheel driver and JPM Integra Championships, where he was third overall. 2008 is Melvin's breakthrough year where he successfully raced in four renowned high profile events in motorsports; FIA World Touring Car Championships (WTCC), FIA Asia Touring Car Series (ATCS), Aston Martin Asia Cup (AMAC), and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. It is also the year he placed Singapore on the international map of car racing as the first and only South-East Asian to race at the FIA WTCC well known for its stringent qualifying process, and by achieving the rare task of scoring points in his debut FIA WTCC race in Okayama, Japan.

About Thunder Asia Racing
Thunder Asia Racing is an experienced racing team with a portfolio of more than 10 years of major race participation and more than 72 racing vehicles built to date. The team has participated in 4 of the highest profile race events in Asia, with 3 of the most prolific racing cars in the world (BMW, Aston Martin, and Porsche). The race drivers' cumulative experience totals more than 100 years between them, and has 32 race wins of 52 races throughout the 10 years of competition. The team has past involvements with factory teams for Honda, Proton, and Lotus.