After more than a decade, the Singapore Touring Car Challenge racing championship has returned, delivering three days of adrenaline-fuelled action from 13 to 15 March 2025 at the Sepang International Circuit.
This year’s Singapore Touring Car Challenge featured twelve Singapore racers battling it out in two categories, each vying for the title of Singapore’s next circuit racing champion.
The playing field was level, thanks to the mandatory GitiCompete GTR2 UHP tyres, ensuring that only skill and strategy would separate the best from the rest.
The tension was palpable from the get-go. Justin Toh, behind the wheel of the 80 Bae Racing-AGI Singapore Honda Jazz, set the pace early, snatching pole position in the Production Stock Class 1 (Honda Jazz/Fit) category.
Lim Yao Huang (90 Team R-Engineering Honda Jazz) was right on his tail, separated by mere fractions of a second.
Meanwhile, Gladys Lam (211 Bae Racing Suzuki Swift) clinched pole position on her STCC debut in the Production Stock Class 2 (Suzuki Swift), ahead of Terence Lee (333 Team R-Engineering Suzuki Swift).
The Saturday morning race was a rolling start spectacle, and from the moment the green flag dropped, it was a battle of wits and reflexes.
Justin and Yao Huang set a blistering pace at the front, while the midfield pack fought tooth and nail, drafting, overtaking, and jostling for every inch of tarmac.
On Lap 7, Gladys’s Suzuki Swift succumbed to mechanical failure, forcing her out of contention and bringing out a Full-Course Yellow (FCY). But the setback only intensified the fight ahead.
As the green flags waved once more, Yao Huang launched a final, all-out assault on Justin’s lead, trying every trick in the book to wrestle control of the race.
Behind them, Aiden Chong (790 Horizon Drivers Club by Bae Racing Honda Jazz) was in full attack mode, clawing past two rivals in a single move.
After a race-long battle of nerves, strategy, and sheer driving prowess, it was Justin who emerged victorious, fending off Yao Huang to clinch the Class 1 title.
Over in Class 2, Terence Lee (333 Team R-Engineering Suzuki Swift) put on a masterclass in consistency, taking home the trophy in a well-earned triumph.
Beyond the podium finishes, STCC 2025 was a celebration of Singapore’s motorsport community.
Joshua Berry, the 16-year-old prodigy, made his circuit racing debut in the 122 Axle Racing Honda Jazz, stepping up from karting to a full-fledged National ‘C’ race licence, a stepping stone towards bigger aspirations, including Formula 4.
Gladys’s journey was equally inspiring. As STCC 2025’s sole female racer, she was determined to make her mark, having already proven her mettle with a sixth-place class finish at the 25-hour Idemitsu Super Endurance Thailand 2024.
Despite her mechanical woes, her qualifying performance illustrated she’s a force to be reckoned with.
“The race was really smooth, and I’m glad we finished strong. That Full Course Yellow made things tricky, but Lim pushed me hard, and it was a fantastic battle all the way to the end. Big thanks to my team at Bae Racing, AGI Singapore, and all the fans who came down to support us.”
Justin Toh, 80 Bae Racing-AGI Singapore Honda Jazz
Justin’s victory was no fluke. The former national badminton player turned racer is no stranger to success, having won his category at the 2024 Sepang 1000km Endurance race.
Motor Sports Singapore President Winson Ow was also in attendance at the event. “On behalf of Motor Sports Singapore, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here at Singapore Touring Car Challenge 2025. The effort that’s gone into this has been phenomenal. Events like these are crucial to nurturing motorsport talent in Singapore.”
The event’s sponsors also played a pivotal role in bringing the STCC 2025 dream to life.
“As a company with deep roots in Singapore, we were thrilled to support STCC 2025. Our GitiCompete tyres performed flawlessly, helping competitors push the limits with confidence,” said Nik Goh, Sales & Marketing Lead for ASEAN, Oceania, and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Motul Asia Pacific’s Chief Marketing Officer Carlo Savoca highlighted the brand’s commitment to motorsports.
“Motorsport is in Motul’s DNA. Seeing circuit racing return to Singapore is truly exciting. The passion, the talent, the precision, it’s everything we stand for. We’re proud to be part of this resurgence and can’t wait to see Singapore’s racing scene reach new heights,” he added.
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