YOUNG THAI IN PURSUIT OF INTERNATIONAL GLORY IN 2025 VIOS CHALLENGE

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Monai, young Thai driver Varunchit Wattanathanakun.

SHAH ALAM, 26 April 2025 — The 2025 Vios Challenge welcomes young Thai driver Varunchit Wattanathanakun or fondly known as Monai who is competing in his first saloon car racing series abroad.

The 17-year-old is amongst the youngest racers competing in the Sporting Class for amateurs and represents Ruk Team Nexzter PMC 52.

Beginning karting competitively at the age of 9, Monai made his debut in saloon car racing last year at the age of 16, competing behind the wheel of a Toyota Yaris in the Thailand Super Series. He had finished 2nd in class and 4th overall, and besides being committed to the full season of the Vios Challenge, will also continue to drive in the Thailand Super Series as he moves up to drive a Toyota Altis in the Super Touring division in 2025.

“Malaysia has a lot of experienced drivers and my participation here is to gain experience. Racing at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit also presents me with a learning experience, especially with the track’s combination of uphill and downhill sections, fast and tight corners, and long straights which I do not experience racing at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand,” said the former Rotax Max (karting) Thailand champion.

“The Vios Challenge race car feels good (1.5-litre engine) and certainly has a lot more power than the 1.2-litre Yaris I raced in Thailand. I am adjusting to car well. My goal this season is to enhance my driving skills and hopefully do well to earn a promotion into the Super Sporting Class next year so I can compete with the professionals.”

An athlete at heart, Monai is also a footballer, baseball, volleyball and basketball player, and is a competitive wakeboarder. He is currently in his final year of high school and aspires to pursue a career in engineering.

Catch the 2025 Vios Challenge action with TGR Malaysia via:

Race over to: www.toyota.com.my/en/tgrmalaysia for full race schedules, driver details and more