Aditya Patnaik Claims Victory at Gold Vios Championship in Malaysia
Aditya Patnaik Triumphs in Malaysia
Sepang (Malaysia), July 27: Indian driver Aditya Patnaik celebrated a remarkable victory in the Sporting Class during Round 3 of the Gold Vios Championship at the renowned Sepang International Circuit late Sunday night. His impressive performance earned him a prize of 15,000 MYR.
The young racer from Mumbai initially secured third place in Race 1 but bounced back to clinch victory in Race 2, marking his first international win in car racing. This achievement comes in his debut year in international competitions, following his success as the Vice-National Champion in the Polo Cup India for two consecutive years.
Driving for Team Axle Sports, led by former F1 driver Alex Young, Aditya faced challenges during qualifying, finishing fourth amidst tricky weather conditions that affected the 21-car grid.
In Race 1, Aditya lost ground early on as the leading cars jostled for position. He engaged in a fierce battle with Malaysia's Taj Aiman, ultimately finishing behind Lew Xuan Yan and Aiman.
Due to the reverse grid rule for Race 2, Aditya started from sixth place. A strong start allowed him to quickly move up to third by Lap 3. After a brief safety car period, he advanced to second place and then took the lead after a fierce contest with Adam Mikail. Aditya maintained his lead despite another safety car deployment, securing his first international victory ahead of Mikail and Ariff Azmi.
Reflecting on his performance, Aditya stated, 'Race 1 was a tough battle, but Race 2 was my best of the year. Earning the lead and winning felt incredible.'
Saurav Bandyopadhyay, CEO of Rayo Racing, praised Aditya's versatility across various racing categories, highlighting his transition from karting to formula cars and now the Vios Challenge in his inaugural international season.
Alex Young commended Aditya's quick adaptation to racing in Malaysia, stating, 'His victory today is a testament to his dedication and hard work.'
Aditya, who won the FMSCI National Karting Championship in 2023, faced a serious accident last year that required surgery and sidelined him for two months. However, he has made a strong comeback this season, currently sitting third in the championship standings with 88 points, with one round remaining.