KUALA LUMPUR – Hoping to spread his wings overseas, Malaysian racer Adam Khalid is embarking on a journey to England to compete in the British GT Championship with Newbridge Motorsports in the GT4 category.
Speaking to The Vibes, 24-year-old Adam said he is looking forward to getting behind his new Aston Martin GT4.
“Being able to drive for Aston Martin is a great accomplishment for any race car driver.
“I want a Malaysian name to be associated with the continental car manufacturer alongside other names synonymous with the brand, such as James Bond and Sebastian Vettel,” he said.
Currently, Adam does not have a fixed contract with the British outfit but hopes his performance will enable him to extend his tenure with the team.
“Ultimately, it is on a race-by-race basis but what I want to achieve is to be able to compete for the next two to three years with Newbridge Motorsports.
“Although I want to showcase my talents as an Asian driver with a team that has so many accolades in the motorsports world, it is daunting to be under that type of pressure.
“But I am looking forward to working with the team in England as they have been very nice and accommodating,” he added.
Adam, who hails from Kuala Terengganu, is expected to begin racing in September after undergoing testing for several months.
He hopes to compete in two races this year before the season break and get on board for the full campaign in 2023.
“Since we won’t be competing in all the races, I think this year will be a warm-up for me but I’ll be able to showcase my talents and prove to the international folks that Malaysia is a force to be reckoned with in 2023.
“We do have the potential to be at the top and do well,” he said.
Adam hopes to improve and move up the racing ladder as well as help the team win the championship.
“Ultimately, I want to move up from GT4 to GT3 and eventually be able to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans − that is where I see myself in the near future.”
As his racing career is currently self-financed, Adam hopes his international endeavours will help him attract prospective sponsors and investors.
“Any support or help from corporate or government entities will be much appreciated.
“Their backing would definitely help me train harder as well as afford me the best equipment so I can compete at a higher level.
“It comes down to having the ability to showcase to the world that Malaysian talents are just as good as international ones and to be blessed with the opportunity to represent Malaysia.”
While racing in England, Adam will also be pursuing his studies at Coventry University with a major in graphic design and a minor in digital marketing.
In 2019, Adam was selected to represent Sepang International Circuit (SIC) in the Touring Car Racing (TCR) Asia Series, where he finished fourth overall.
In 2018, he came in second at the Sepang 1000km race with the Hirev Dream Chaser team.
Adam, who was part of SIC’s talent development programme, also emerged as the first runner-up in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival Malaysia Sporting Class in 2021. – The Vibes, April 14, 2022
