The Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME), the brainchild of the Sepang International Circuit Chairman, is one of the premier local Malaysian events with strong international recognitions. It has made its mark in the national’s motorsports history by being the first 12-hour endurance race organised and promoted by locals.
For the local motorsports enthusiasts, the MME is much awaited for every year since 2000. The 12 – hour endurance will definitely put the drivers’ skill, teams’ management and the machines to the limits. The team will have three drivers who will race for at least 70 minutes being before allowed to switch.
MME has been regarded as catalysts to the national motorsports development. Here, the competition is fierce and indirectly will produce racers, team managers and crew with world standard.
In the year 2000, there were 55 teams competed in MME. The response from the public were very encouraging because apart from celebrating our independence day at Dataran Merdeka or entertainment outlet, Malaysians now have another reason and new place to celebrate independence day which at Sepang International Circuit experiencing the exciting and action packed 12 hours race.
In the year 2001, the participants increased from 55 teams to 78 teams including the international teams. And for the first time 2001 MME witnessed the entry form a private high school, Pay Fong High School that joined the race in the name of charity. All the contributions from the sponsors were for charity purposes. This year also witnessed the participations from Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.
Racers who participated in MME were no strangers among the Malaysians fans. Names like Karamjit Singh, Jimmy Low, Keifli Othman and Adam Lokman were among the racers who show off their driving skills on the 5.543km track.
In fact, our very first Formula One driver, Alex Yoong also participated in the MME. Spectators also witnessed the participation of Mohamed Fairuz, the young racer who is gearing up to be the next Formula One driver. Kunimitsu Takahashi, a Japan GT driver also participated in MME backed by his own GTA crew.
The spectators who came and witnessed their favourite driver competing and battling each other on the track during MME were the one who supported the event. They were willing to be on the track for 12 hours to experience the actions. It was the only way for you to witness all the best drivers from various categories competing each other on the same track at the same time.
With the carnival atmosphere created for the spectators during MME, it is a new way for the young motorsports enthusiasts to celebrate Malaysia Independence Day. They are the one who act as the catalysts for the development of motorsports in Malaysia.
