SEPANG, June 30 — The first round of the 2014 GRA Autocross Championships was run at the Sepang International Circuit Car Park area on 29 June 2014.

The GRA Autocross Championship goes into its tenth historic year, beginning in 2005. The GRA Autocross started as a discussion at a teh tarik session during which a group of motoring enthusiasts were lamenting the lack of grassroots level motorsports events, and Ian Khong, son of veteran race and rally driver YS Khong was voted to take on the responsibility of organising the first event. What started as a notion grew into an annual championship.

What you see in the video is one of the pioneer drivers Ivan Khong, who also happens to be the eldest son of YS Khong, and Ian’s brother, who is one of the fastest drivers in the GRA. At the top level, there is very intense competition, and the fastest drivers are usually split by milliseconds. At the novice level, there is even a category for K-cars and even a category for automatic cars.

An autocross event is usually held in a large car park, with the course laid out using cones. Drivers have to negotiate the course from start to finish on an individual basis, running against the clock.

Knocking over a cone will incur a time penalty which is added to the total time taken to negotiate the course. — Picture courtesy of YS Khong

Knocking over a cone will incur a time penalty which is added to the total time taken to negotiate the course.

Anyone with a driver’s licence is eligible to take part in the GRA Autocross Championships, and one also has the option to participate in individual rounds (total of 6 rounds for 2014). All that is required is a competition licence, and GRA will gladly assist anyone who has interest in participating.

Information about the GRA Autocross can be found here. The next round is scheduled for 3 August 2014 at the Shah Alam Stadium car park. 

A Toyota Vios is seen at the 2014 GRA Autocross Championships. — Picture courtesy of YS Khong