Malaysian youngster Adam Khalid will race a Volkswagen Golf GTi in the 2019 TCR Asia series with Engstler Motorsport, after becoming part of the Sepang Circuit Talent Development Programme.
Khalid took part in the first round of the recent TCR Malaysia series with the German team, finishing fourth in the second race at Sepang.
The 21-year-old has now been chosen to follow in the footsteps of last year’s candidate Mitchell Cheah, who is moving on to TCR Germany, to compete in TCR Asia with Engstler Motorsport.
Khlaid is thus Engstler Motorsport’s second confirmed driver for this year’s Asian TCR Series, after Luca Engstler was already confirmed in a Hyundai i30 N TCR.
“Being selected as SIC Talent Development Driver for 2019 is a huge stepping stone in my career and I thank them for believing in me and giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Khalid.
“I will give it my all or nothing. I’ve still got so much more to learn in the TCR car and I believe there is no better combination to do so but with Engstler Motorsport and SIC.”
Sepang International Circuit Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Razlan Razali explained how Khalid emerged as the preferred choice, after beating fellow Malaysians Mark Darwin, Brendan Paul Anthony and Ahmad Akid Azlee to the seat after racing in TCR Malaysia.
“We placed them all in TCR Malaysia, with the mission to select one of them for TCR Asia under the SIC Talent Development Programme,” said Razali. “All four are very talented and it was indeed a difficult and painful decision that we had to make.
“The selection was not just based on the results in TCR Malaysia; but on an overall assessment based on fitness, performance and behavioural qualities.”