Malaysian driver Leona Chin will make her international GT debut in the brand new and fully Malaysian Legacy Racing Team, at the wheel of a Mercedes AMG GT3 car.
The story of Leona Chin is one that deserved an international stage and she will indeed have that chance in 2020, as the famous Malaysian driver gets ready for her GT World Challenge Asian debut.
Racing under the banner of the brand-new Legacy Racing Team, Chin joins forces with Tengku Djan Ley at the wheel of a Am-class Mercedes AMG GT3. Despite the fresh all-Malaysian project, the car will be run in conjunction with Tedco Racing, a team with previous experience of national championships, now set to upgrade its operations into the SRO organized series.
33-year old Leona Chin, who has built herself a reputation in drifting and stunt driving, is a real multifaceted motorsport athlete: she competed in many forms of auto racing throughout her career and participated in promotional activities and TV shows to help fund her racing schedule. She recently competed in the Malaysian Championship Series, a local touring car category, where she finished second in 2019. Her experiences include stints in the Clio Cup China Series and the Mini Challenge Asia.
The switch to GT3 cars in one of the elite international championships is the fullfillment of a dream for Leona: “It was always a dream to race in any GT championship so to now have an opportunity in Asia’s most prestigious GT series is pretty amazing.” she commented.
“It's going to be a tough and challenging year as it will be my first time racing a GT3 car, let alone the beautiful Mercedes-AMG. But I’m also very excited to visit new circuits that I’ve never previously raced at."
"Competing in GT World Challenge Asia will provide me with great experience at a very high level of racing.”
Chin's teammate, compatriot Tengku Djan Ley, is also an eminent figure of the drifting scene: the "Prince of Drifting", as he is nicknamed, finished seventh in last season's FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup. The 43-year old previously competed in the 2005 FIA GT Championship round in Zhuhai, but, as Leona, is new to GT3 machinery and is aware of the challenges ahead.
“As newcomers to GT World Challenge Asia and GT racing generally we will need to dig deep to catch up with the rest of the established teams and drivers." - commented Legacy Racing Team's boss Kelvin Liang. "Success, however, will be sweeter being an all-Malaysian team of drivers and crew.”
The 2020 GT World Challenge Asia features a 6-rounds, 11 races calendar, starting from Legacy Racing Team's home race in Sepang (March 28/29). The Championship will then travel to Thailand (Buriram), Japan (Fuji, Suzuka) and China, for its double closing rounds at Shanghai International Circuit.
The 2019 edition of the formerly called Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia also starred apperances by female endurance aces Christina Nielsen and Rahel Frey.
In Leona's words:
It was always a dream to race in any GT championship so to now have an opportunity in Asia’s most prestigious GT series is pretty amazing.
Ph Credits: Legacy Motorsport