Lotus Wins In Malaysia
Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel, Genji Hashimoto and Tony Ricciardello, driving the Proton R3 Amprex Racing Lotus Exige 300RR (development by Pilbeam Racing Designs) won the 2005 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race this weekend, after a close duel with the Honda Malaysia Racing entry, at the Sepang Circuit.

Starting from pole position, the Malaysian-Japanese and Australian trio completed 279 laps in their Lotus – but the lead was switching between the Lotus and the Honda Civic almost throughout. Only in the last hour did the Lotus look comfortable at the front, winning by a lap.

Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel was at the wheel of the Lotus in its debut race, the Super GT at the same track – a race the Exige failed to finish.

The Honda Malaysia entry had a useful line-up: Hiroki Katoh, Eddie Lew and Farriz Fauzy, and won Class A.

Driving a Porsche 996, Clive Bates, Nick Thomas and Joe Sevack of Hong Kong took third overall, while the 1601cc to 1900cc Class B was won by a trio of Australian drivers from Gates Racing Team - Mark Eddy, Grant Johnson and Francois Jouy. They finished 12th overall. At least Australia won something this weekend.

Chong Fu Seong, Ee Shedden Joon Joon and Harry Chai won Class C.
Sergio Fonseca

Top Ten
1. Tony Ricciardello / Genji Hashimoto / Tengku Djan Ley (Lotus Exige 300RR) 279
laps
2. Hiroki Katoh / Eddie Lew / Farriz Fauzy (Honda Civic 2.0) - 278 laps
3. Nicholas Thomas / Clive Bates / Joe Sevack (Porsche 996 GT3 R) - 269 laps
4. Rueben Wong / Ng Eng Tiong / Jeff Wright (Honda Integra DC5) - 266 laps
5. Desmond Soh / Apathorn Karnasuta / Piti Bhirombhakdi (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 266
laps
6. Firhat Mokhzani / Eric Yeo / TJ Chin (Nissan Skyline R34) - 265 laps
7. Patrick Ng / Khoo Beng Swee / Khoo Kay Hong (Lotus 340R) - 260 laps
8. Ryo Michigami / Kunimitsu Takahashi / Tommy Lee (Honda Civic) - 253 laps
9. Tseu Chan Kee / Faisal Zelman Malik / Wira Dani Daim (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) -
253
10. Sharjihan Ghouse / Jackie Ng / Freddie Chen (Honda Integra) - 251 laps.