Malaysia’s Viper Niza Racing Team kicks off its European endurance racing campaign this weekend (18-20 April 2025) with an assault on the Michelin 12 Hours of Spa Francorchamps in Belgium.
The all Malaysian crew led by drivers Douglas Khoo, Dominic Ang and Melvin Moh are entered in the GT3/AM class and will pilot a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in the race that will see no less than 10 different manufacturers and 40 cars across five main classes doing battle. In their class, Viper Niza Racing’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo will be up against the likes of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, Aston martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo.
Spa Francorchamps is one of the most historical circuits in international racing and also notoriously well-known as one of the most high-speed circuits in the world with a total length of 7.004km featuring 19 turns. It is also famous for its highly unpredictable weather conditions. It began life as a 14.1km circuit in 1925 before being shortened to its current length in 1979 for safety reasons and has hosted the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix every year since 1985 (except 2003 and 2006).
Despite its fierce reputation, the circuit however, holds one of the team’s most memorable achievements, with all three drivers returning to the venue they won the PRO/AM class in the inaugural TCR SPA500 (500 laps) race in 2019 behind the wheel of a Seat Cupra TCR DSG. They accomplished this on their first visit to Spa Francorchamps.
“Spa Francorchamps has a very special place in our hearts – it is indeed an extremely intimidating circuit due to its high-speed characteristics and changing weather conditions, but it is also home to one of our best achievements in international racing. Returning in a more powerful GT3 class car this year will undoubtedly present its own set of challenges but the crew and drivers remain focused and optimistic. Past experiences in endurance racing will tell us that the very first goal will be to finish the race, and the icing on the cake will certainly be to stand on the podium,” said lead driver and Team Principal Khoo.
“2025 marks our third year competing in the GT3 class behind the wheel of two very different cars. It’s been a steep learning curve in an extremely competitive class of racing, of course enduring our fair share of incidents and disappointments, but we are making good progress. The new package for 2025 is more competitive, we seem to be adapting to it better and we are confident that this will translate into more achievements moving forward.”
Also powering the team’s confidence this weekend will be its recent victory in the GT AM Masters class and a second place in the GT AM class at the Motul 12 Hours of Sepang. For driver Ang meanwhile, heading to Spa Francorchamps will make it back to back driving duties after finishing 14th overall and 4th SIL/AM class finish at last week’s GT World Challenge Asia in Sepang.
From Spa Francorchamps this weekend, Viper Niza Racing will go on to take on the 12 Hours of Misano in Italy from 23-24 May; the 12 Hours of Paul Ricard in France from 3-5 July; the 24 Hours of Barcelona in Spain from 26-28 September; and the Shanghai 8 Hours in October.
Viper Niza Racing continues to be backed by Motul in 2025, with other sponsors that include Endless & Momentum Autoparts; IWC as its Official Watch Brand; and Jen Orchard Gateway Hotel in Singapore.