Ethanworx Motorsports overcame a troubled qualifying session and a late-race brake issue to finish 2nd in class at the recent Merdeka 111 Endurance. The all-Filipino lineup of Ethan Ong, Andre Tan, and Pep Lo climbed from the back of a massive 63-car field in a 5-hour battle to cross the finish line 19th overall.
Organized by the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF), the Merdeka 111 Endurance takes place over Malaysia’s Independence Day weekend, with its name referring to the race’s 111-lap distance. This year’s event covered approximately 615 km around the 5.534 km F1-grade Sepang International Circuit (SIC), beginning at 5:30 PM and running well into the night.
Sharing the black-and-green #368 Toyota 86 of Stratos Motorsports, Ethanworx Motorsports was one of 7 entries in the GT86 x BRZ Racing Cup. Unfortunately, their weekend got off to a difficult start when the car suffered an electrical problem during Qualifying with Ethan behind the wheel. Down on power, they were relegated to P56 overall and dead last in class.
But with more than 5 hours of racing ahead, there was plenty of time to fight back.
Ethan took the start and immediately worked his way through the field, gaining around 30 positions before making the team’s first stop and driver change just before the 1-hour mark.
Andre took over in P32 overall and P6 in class and continued their charge. By the 2-hour mark, the #368 had climbed to an impressive P14 overall and P2 in class.
While some of their class rivals were quicker over a single lap, Ethanworx focused on the bigger picture. With 63 cars running at similar speeds, overtaking proved difficult even around a circuit as wide as Sepang. Instead, the team concentrated on conserving fuel, extending its stints, minimizing time in the pits, and looking after the car.
Pep was next behind the wheel as darkness fell over Sepang. By the 3-hour mark, the #368 was P20 overall while maintaining P2 in class. The leader was already a lap ahead, but Ethanworx had also built a 1-lap advantage over P3, so there was little reason to risk a podium by pushing harder.
Ethan returned for a demanding 80-minute nighttime stint when the Toyota 86 began suffering from brake issues. Repairs would have cost too much time, so the team elected to nurse the car to the finish. Despite the problem, the 17-year-old minimized the time lost and retained their 1-lap cushion over 3rd in class.
Andre then took over for the final run to the chequered flag, bringing the #368 Toyota 86 home 19th overall and, more importantly, 2nd in the GT86 x BRZ Racing Cup.
Ethanworx Motorsports completed 102 laps, finishing 2 laps behind the class winner and a full lap ahead of 3rd. From starting P56 overall and last in class, the all-Filipino crew gained 37 positions and five places in its category over the course of the race.
Ethan Ong: “Congrats to my teammates Pep and Andre for taking a podium on our first international race together. Really impressed that they were able to adapt so quickly in such a short period of time and be competitive come the race. I’d also like to thank Stratos Motorsports for providing us with a competitive car that was able to endure, and a team of people that was very supportive. We had lots of fun and who knows, maybe we’ll be back next year.”
Andre Tan: “It was an incredible experience topped by a podium finish while dicing with great international drivers.”
Pep Lo: “I am truly grateful to have learned and been a part of a highly skilled international team. Completing this task on a Formula 1-grade track is incredibly fulfilling.”
For more info and the latest updates, follow Ethanworx Motorsports on Facebook and @ethanworxmotorsports75 on Instagram.
