Local heroes Viper Niza Racing Team raced to 3^rd place in the GT3-AM Class and 8^th overall at the inaugural Michelin 12 Hours of Malaysia to continue the team’s triumphant streak at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit.

Leading at one point of the race, the all-Malaysian Viper Niza Racing Team had to make an unscheduled pit stop for a brief mechanical inspection. The problem was later traced to two loose bolts in the steering rack assembly and although repairs were brief, it cost the team to drop four laps when their Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO rejoined the race. The AM Class was won by the Porsche of Origine Motorsport who finished four laps (319 laps completed) ahead of Continental Racing by Simpson in the Audi (315 laps), with Viper Niza Racing Team in third place with 311 laps.

The trio of Douglas Khoo, Dominic Ang and Melvin Moh fought valiantly to regain the top position but it was a tall order in what had been near perfect weather conditions against a highly-competitive line-up of teams which saw all 17 cars that started the race making it to the chequered flag at the end of the 12 hours of racing.

The Michelin 12H of Malaysia was held for the very first time as a prelude to the Michelin 24H Middle East Series that will feature two rounds: the Michelin 6H of Abu Dhabi from 9-10 January and the Michelin 24H of Dubai from 16-18 January

“Indeed, the race was a bit challenging because we had a slight issue with the car though fortunately nothing major. We had to make one unscheduled pitstop but in that short time it required to rectify the problem we lost valuable laps to two of the most competitive teams in the Series. Overall, it was a tough race, we wanted badly to win it because it was our home race and we had the advantage of having raced at Sepang countless times, but the most important is that we successfully completed the 12 hours,” said Viper Niza Racing Team’s lead driver and Team Principal Douglas Khoo.

“Overall, 2025 has been good to us – we had a podium finish this time, one in Sepang at the Motul 12 Hours of Sepang held in March, and in Europe, we were 2^nd at the Michelin 12H of Spa Francorchamps in Belgium in April; 3^rd at the 12H of Paul Ricard in France in July; and finished the Michelin 24H European Series 4^th overall in the point standings of the GT3-AM Class despite missing one of the five rounds. As with any endurance racing, you learn a lot and the experience makes you better prepared, and we will definitely be back in Europe to compete in all five rounds of the championship in 2026. We also look forward to more endurance races being held in Asia that we can take part in.”

The 2026 European leg of the Michelin 24H Series is scheduled to start 20-22 March with the Michelin 12H of Mugello in Italy. A total of five rounds will make up the European calendar which includes the Michelin 12H of Spa Francorchamps in Belgium from 17-19 April; the Michelin 12H of Paul Ricard in France from 5-7 June; the Michelin 12H of Nurburgring in Germany from 3-5 July; and the finale Michelin 24H of Barcelona in Spain from 18-20 September. Viper Niza Racing receives the full backing of Motul, Endless & Momentum Autoparts; IWC as its Official Watch Brand; Jen Orchard Gateway Hotel in Singapore and Vida sparkling drink.