Malaysia to challenge for TGR Asia Esport GT Championship 2026 title on home ground – Asia's best vie for RM 130,000 prize pool

Malaysia will field a strong three-driver lineup at the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Asia Esport GT Championship, taking place at Jiospace in Petaling Jaya on November 14 and 15, 2026.

The regional competition will bring together 15 of Southeast Asia's leading simulator racers from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, competing on Gran Turismo 7 for individual and team honours and a combined prize pool of USD31,000 (approximately RM130,000).

Malaysia is hosting the championship for the third time, with this year's team comprising former regional champion and Asian Games gold medallist Taj Aiman, Asia Pacific Motorsports Championship gold medallist Nabil Azlan, and rising racing talent Ethen Low.

Three Malaysian champions targeting home victory

Leading the Malaysian challenge is 27-year-old Taj Aiman, the reigning Asian Games gold medallist, 2024 TGR Asia champion and four-time TGR Malaysia eRacing champion.

This will be his seventh appearance representing Malaysia in the regional championship, where he hopes to reclaim the individual title he won in 2024.

"Winning the Asian Games gold medal will certainly become a huge boost of confidence for me going into the 2026 TGR Asia Esport GT Championship," said Taj Izrin Aiman, adding that he hopes to secure both the individual and team titles.

Joining him is 24-year-old Nabil Azlan, who recently secured gold at the Asia Pacific Motorsports Championship and was crowned the 2025 TGR Malaysia eRacing Pro champion.

Nabil is also a graduate of Toyota's simulator-to-real-world racing programme, having successfully transitioned into the Toyota Vios Challenge, where he won the Rookie and Sporting Class titles.

Having already achieved success in both virtual and actual motorsport, Nabil is now targeting his first regional TGR Asia championship.

Completing the Malaysian lineup is 16-year-old Ethen Low, the 2025 TGR Malaysia eRacing Junior champion.

Despite his age, Low is already competing in the 2026 Toyota Vios Challenge under the Gazoo Racing-UMW Toyota Motor Young Talent Development Program, where he currently sits joint-first in the Rookie Class standings with two races remaining.

The upcoming championship will mark only his second international simulator racing appearance, following his semi-final finish at the recent Asia Pacific Motorsports Championship.

Former champions return for regional showdown

Last year's champion, Andika Rama

Malaysia will face strong competition from four other nations, including reigning champion Andika Rama of Indonesia, who previously won the TGR Asia title in 2023 and 2025.

Singapore's Ar Muhammad Aleef, the 2020 champion, will also return, setting up a contest between three former regional winners.

Other notable participants include returning Filipino racers Russel Reyes and Enzo Ison, alongside several newcomers making their regional championship debuts.

Each participating nation will field three drivers, including at least one competitor aged 18 or below, giving emerging talent an opportunity to compete against more experienced racers.

Three races on Gran Turismo 7

All 15 drivers will compete across three races using Sony PlayStation's Gran Turismo 7 simulator.

The championship will feature three different circuits and vehicles:

• Grand Valley – Highway 1: Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept '18 (Gr.3)
• Nürburgring GP: Toyota GR Yaris RZ High Performance '20
• Fuji Speedway: Toyota SF23 Super Formula '23

Drivers will earn championship points based on finishing position, with 25 points awarded for victory, 20 for second and 16 for third. Points are awarded down to 15th place, while the fastest lap in each race earns an additional two points.

The overall individual and team champions will each receive USD 8,000, while second and third places will receive USD 4,500 and USD 3,000 respectively.

Additional awards will recognise Best Race Craft, Rookie of the Day and Driver of the Day.

Toyota continues developing racers through esports

Last year's final in Bangkok

First held in 2018 as the GR Velocity Esports Championship, the competition subsequently became the Toyota GR Supra GT Cup and GR GT Cup Asia Championship before adopting its current TGR Asia Esport GT Championship identity for 2026.

Now in its ninth consecutive year, the championship continues Toyota's efforts to develop aspiring racing drivers through virtual motorsport, with several past participants progressing into actual racing championships.

Speaking ahead of the event, Toyota Motor Asia vice president Preston Tan said the championship has demonstrated how simulator racing can provide opportunities for young drivers to enter motorsport.

"We have also been especially encouraged to see drivers from previous editions go on to compete in real-world motorsport, and even on bigger stages such as the Asian Games," said Tan, describing the championship as a genuine pathway into racing.

Beyond the main championship, the weekend will include exhibition races featuring Toyota representatives, media personnel and esports competitors.

Fans can follow the 2026 TGR Asia Esport GT Championship through Toyota Gazoo Racing Asia's official Facebook page, with the main Asia Finals taking place on November 15 at Jiospace, Petaling Jaya.