Photo: Sepang

Adam Khalid secures Sepang-backed Team Engstler seat

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Adam Khalid will join the TCR Asia series grid for the 2019 season after being chosen by the Sepang International Circuit as the driver who will represent the circuit during the year ahead.

The 21-year-old will take the seat vacated by last year’s candidate Mitchell Cheah, who has moved on to compete in TCR Germany this season.

Khalid was selected ahead of Mark Darwin, Brendan Paul Anthony and Ahmad Akid Azlee to take the drive, with all four drivers having taken part in the recent TCR Malaysia series to help determine who would take the role.

“It is with great pleasure for us to announce that the selected driver is Adam Khalid,” SIC CEO, Dato’ Razlan Razali said. “All four are very talented and it was indeed a difficult and painful decision that we have to make. The selection was not just based on results at the TCR Malaysia; but an overall assessment based on fitness, performance and behavioural qualities.

“SIC is pleased with the cooperation between Engstler and Adam Khalid and looking forward to the success in the TCR Asia and the development of more talents in future under SIC Talent Development Programme. Naturally, this is not the end for Mark, Brendan and Akid. Given their talents and skills, there will be other opportunities for them and we truly hope that they will continue to work on the career and we wish them all the best.”

Khalid himself said he was delighted to have earned the chance to join the defending champions for the upcoming season.

“Being recently selected by SIC as their 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,” he said. “I will give it my all or nothing. It was an eye-opening experience being able to work with such an established team such as Team Engstler and to be backed by SIC was just the icing on the cake.

“Over the short period of time on the weekend the team really did support me in every aspect from feeling welcomed to fully learning the car and we ended up on the podium on my debut which was amazing. Ultimately, 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.”