Over the past weekend, Team Petronas has proved their metal at the 12-Hour Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race, bringing their machines home to a 1-2 finish. We speak to the men behind the scene.

Dominic Ang, Driver – Team Petronas Syntium, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 #1

At the age of 23, Dominic Ang is one of the team’s youngest drivers. The Malaysian had a very successful rookie year with the team, claiming victories in both the Japan Super Taikyu Series and MMER in 2011. This year, he returns to extend the team’s dominance in the MMER by finishing first in the #1 car with teammates Nobuteru Taniguchi and Masataka Yanagida.

When asked about how he embarked on the journey as a racing driver, Ang fondly recalled, "I was more introverted and quiet in nature when I was young. Hence, my dad wanted me to be involved in an outdoor sport." Ang added that his dad is an avid fan of motorsports too, bike racing in particular, and has been the pivotal force behind his passion for motorsports. He never looked back since then.

Sharing his joy after his win in the #1 car, Ang added, "I am very happy to have defended the title and this is an early birthday present to myself." The young driver has once again proven himself on the gruelling 12-hour race around Sepang, clocking a faster pace compared to the previous year at the circuit. This, in spite the arduous conditions, such as the scorching weather during the first hours of the race. "Temperatures were very hot this year, and we spent a good part of the race chasing down the leader and pushing competitive timings."

The team’s effort paid off in the end, with the #1 car maintaining a strong pace and took the lead from the Ferrari 458 fielded by Clearwater Racing, which ran into technical problems in the 10th hour, and eventually retire before the chequered flag was brought out.

While keeping his passion bonded on the race tracks, Ang took up further studies during his free time. Regardless, he hopes to stay in the field of motor racing, as long as he is given a chance to proof his metal on the tracks, keeping his dreams alive.

Dato David Wong, Principal – Team Petronas Syntium

Endowed with a wealth of experience in motorsports management, David Wong is key in shaping the team’s success. Earlier this April, he was conferred the ‘Dato’ title for his contributions to the Malaysian motorsports scene, and his commitment towards grooming future motorsports talents.

Team Petronas started off in the 1990, fielding contenders in both Touring Car and Superbike racing. The outfit soon grew and brought the Petronas name to fame in the racing arena - to this day, the Petronas Racing team has claimed no less than eighty wins around the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, China, and United Kingdom. The team had a 3-year stint in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), and returned to the region for Asia Touring Car Championship (ATCC) between 2005 and 2006. Now, it is actively competing in the Super Taikyu championship in Japan.

When asked about the decisions to return to the local motorsports arena, Dato Wong commented that Petronas has a huge influence in deciding which races to go for. As a Team Principal, he is determined to bring out the best in the team regardless of which race or region the team is competing in.

Sharing his aspirations for the team, Dato Wong said, "As a racing outfit, the topmost priority is of course to win races. That said, we must not neglect the importance of developing new talents."

Dato Wong describes the toughest part being the continuous search for racing talent. He added, "Nowadays, the technologies and infrastructure are so advanced, allowing teenagers more avenues to develop their personal skills. However, with this greater exposure it also means tougher challenges and more intense competition among these young talents."

His greatest personal satisfaction is to develop rising talents, and see to them achieving great heights in their racing careers. For instance, pairing the less-experienced drivers such as Dominic Ang and Mervin Moh with the more seasoned ones provides a cultured learning ground for the young drivers. The formula seems to be working for the team, with Ang winning his 2nd MMER title with veteran Nobuteru Taniguchi and Masataka Yanagida.