KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- Johor Motorsports Racing Team (JMR) celebrated a double podium at the Suzuka 1000 endurance race after securing third place overall and third in the Pro-Am class in Suzuka, Japan, yesterday.
The team’s Pro line-up of Dutch driver Nicky Catsburg, New Zealander Scott McLaughlin and Englishman Alexander Sims produced a near-flawless performance to clinch third in the #2 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
In the Pro-Am category, Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Al Haj and Finnish driver Konsta Lappalainen produced a consistent drive to also finish third with the #99 Corvette.
“I’m really proud of the whole team. It was a tough weekend with the weather conditions and a tough race, but everyone did an amazing job. This is my third round with my brother racing alongside me and our first podium together in the Intercontinental Challenge, so to finish the race is a proud moment and he did an amazing job all weekend.
“From the mechanics, to my trainer and everyone involved, I’m super-proud of what we achieved. This is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg of what our plan is. It’s a new journey and there are more exciting plans ahead,” Tunku Abdul Rahman said in a JMR statement today.
Tunku Abu Bakar described the third-place finish in the Pro-Am category, alongside the sister car’s overall podium, as a proud achievement for JMR.
“Everyone did great this weekend - every pit-stop was flawless and we couldn’t ask for more. This is the first race in years where I’ve teamed up with my brother; it was our first podium together since 2019 and my first endurance racing podium. It’s been a very good weekend,” he said.
Meanwhile, Catsburg said: “I’m really proud of the way we all drove today and I really hope I can do some more races with JMR in the future.
The 2025 Suzuka 1000 marked its return as part of the SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge after a five-year hiatus.
A total of 33 GT3 and GTA-GT300-spec cars took the grid for the race, with 27 completing the full distance.
JMR Team now switches its focus to the final two rounds of the GT World Challenge Asia to be held on a new street circuit at Beijing on Oct 17-19.
-- BERNAMA
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