Our Exceptionally Brave & Talented Lass!

Redbull, with racing team partner AMN Motorsports, launched a first of its kind Female Driver Search campaign on 20th June 2007 to seek young female drivers and to create a platform for these young talents to live their dreams to compete in the national circuit.

The drivers were selected from over 600 hopefuls and were narrowed down to 12 drivers who went through their development and selection programme and finally the best 4 were selected to compete in the 2008 MME.

Those selected were to be trained by the Red Bull X1R Racing Team professional drivers – celebrity DeannaYusoff, Hiroko Nakamura, Philippa Yoong and Nurul Alis Aidil Akhbar also known as Kiki.

The 12 trainees came from all walks of life ranging from former drifters to an engineer who is none other than our very own, Evelyne Wan Mokhtar. However, after going through the tough trainings and battling yoga - in which she said was the hardest, Evelyne was not one of the lucky four to make it into the Red Bull X1R team.

In spite of this, she pulled off an impressive feat during training including clocking the 2^nd best time in the first control test (and no cones were hit – this is amazing, you will know what I mean if you know her in person ;)), 2^nd fastest overall and resulted in her team to emerge 2^nd in the Go Kart challenge and finally, again the 2^nd fastest in the straight shoot out test during the programme.

We are so proud of you, Evie!

Team Manager

Mohd Rizal Abdul Rashid

Age: 32

Status: Married to Iliana Yussof (the Kazzen blog creator) and a father to the future Team Manager of Kazzen, Harris.

Profession: Systems Engineer

Experience:

Sepang 1000km Race 2010

Sepang 1000km Race 2009

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2007

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2004

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2003

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2002

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2001

Drivers

Mohamad Cassim Mohd Hanef

Age: 35

Status: Married to Shazreen Shah (Secretary II of Kazzen Motorsports Club) and father to future little Kazzen member, Hazim.

Profession: Manager, International Trade Services

Racing Experience:

Sepang 1000km Race 2010
Sepang International Circuit
Class 2
Car: Toyota Levin AE111 BZR
Qualified 21st over 56 Overall (2:43.025 sec)
Finished 6^th in Class / 8^th Overall (177 laps)

Sepang 1000km Race 2009
Sepang International Circuit
Class 2
Car: Toyota Levin AE111 BZR
Qualified 8th over 24 in Class 2 (2:45sec)
DNF

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2007
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified xxth over xx in Class C (x:xxsec)
DNF

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2004
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified xxth over xx in Class C (x:xxsec)
Finished 15^th in Class / 49^th Overall (30 laps)

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2003
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified 16th over 24 in Class C (2:44sec)
Finished 3^rd in Class / 19^th Overall (241 laps)

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2002
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified xxth over xx in Class C (x:xxsec)
Finished 3^rd in Class / 15th Overall (233 laps)

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2001
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified xxth over xx in Class C (x:xxsec)
Finished 8^th in Class / xxth Overall (xx laps)

M

Muzamil Mohamad

Age: 36 (Oldest member of Kazzen)

Status: Married to Azra Abd Rashid (Secretary I of Kazzen Motorsports Club and kid sister to Team Manager, Rizal - who also maintains the Kazzen blog.. ;))

Profession: Aviator

Racing Experience:

Sepang 1000km Race 2010
Sepang International Circuit
Class 2
Car: Toyota Levin AE111 BZR
Qualified 21st over 56 Overall (2:43.025 sec)
Finished 6^th in Class / 8^th Overall (177 laps)



Sepang 1000km Race Challenge 2009
Sepang International Circuit
Class 2
Car: Toyota Levin AE111 BZR
Qualified 8th over 24 in Class 2 (2:45sec)
DNF


Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2007
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified xxth over xx in Class C (x:xxsec)
DNF

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2003
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified 16th over 24 in Class C (2:44sec)
Finished 3^rd in Class / 19^th Overall (241 laps)

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2002
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified xxth over xx in Class C (x:xxsec)
Finished 3^rd in Class / 15th Overall (233 laps)

Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2001
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified xxth over xx in Class C (x:xxsec)
Finished 8^th in Class / xxth Overall (xx laps)

Hichame Abd Ghaffur

Age: 31

Status: Single & Available (any interested future Kazzen member may apply)

Profession: Electrical Engineer

Racing Experience:

Sepang 1000km Race 2010
Sepang International Circuit
Class 2
Car: Toyota Levin AE111 BZR
Qualified 21st over 56 Overall (2:43.025 sec)
Finished 6^th in Class / 8^th Overall (177 laps)



Sepang 1000km Race Challenge 2009
Sepang International Circuit
Class 2
Car: Toyota Levin AE111 BZR
Qualified 17th over 24 in Class 2 (2:45sec)
DNF


Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race 2007
Sepang International Circuit
Class C
Car: Toyota Corolla SEG 1.6
Qualified xxth over xx in Class C (x:xxsec)
DNF

Autocross Kansas 2001-2002
Wichita Kansas
Car: Toyota Celica GT4

MME 2007 - Kazzen & its unfortunate mishap

Team KAZZEN Motorsports was established. Hisham Ghaffur (who prefers his name spelled HICHAME) joined the team as our third driver. The team once more received a sponsorship from Air Asia Berhad among others. However, after months of hard work it was not to be as history repeated itself - they went through another painful race with a mechanical failure. Although they qualified for the race, the engine cooling system broke down and caught fire while Cassim was driving, forcing them to retire in the very first lap.

L-R: Muzamil, Cassim, Hichame & Rizal

Final Discussion

The guys



... and the ladies

MME 2004 - Unsuccessful year

The driver line-up for MME 2004 was Cassim Hanef, Azlan and Kenny. Muzamil’s absence to partake in the competition was due to poor health. According to the Team Manager, the last minute preparation had lead them to suffer from mechanical problems wherein they experience overflowing engine oil throughout the race. Nonetheless, despite the crisis the team still finished the race at 15^th place (Class C).

MME 2003 - Another Victory and Air Asia

The third appearance was made in 2003 where the team had received a major sponsorship from Asia’s leading and largest low cost carrier, Air Asia Berhad. A roadshow was held by Air Asia at the Sungei Wang Plaza to introduce the team to the public prior to the race wherein it was joined by a few local artists namely Ning Baizura, Fadzley, Hazami, Deja Moss, Ani Mayuni, Syikin and Datin Sheril Aida and hosted by Azhar Sulaiman dan Red 104.9 radio DJ, KC Ismail.

Driving the same humble car again, the 1.6 Toyota Corolla SEG (now painted red) and with the help from an extended number of crews, the team once again emerged 3rd in its Class but this time, the cousins completed the race with driver Khaidi Kamaruddin’s involvement replacing the initial driver, Adian Yein Khalid. The team was left behind by 1.04 seconds due to the problem they had with the broken exhaust mounting at the final hour of the 12-hour race.

Drivers and their winnings

Climbing the podium for the second time

Lining up

Assiduous crew

Sharing the joy

With some of the artistes at the roadshow

MME 2002 - First Win

They made a comeback in the subsequent year with the same set of drivers and loyal crews. Rizal once again lead the team and what started as fun turned into leading the team to a victory when they were announced as the 3rd place in Class C category and 15^th in the overall category of the MME 2001, driving the 1.6 Toyota Corolla SEG.

A similar standard engine set up was once again being tailored by Muzamil and his team of mechanics. No sponsors for the guys this time. The only contribution they received was their mothers’ sandwiches, bihun goreng and nasi lemak. The cash prize of RM5,000 was used to pay off the costs of preparing the car, injected by the drivers prior to the race.

Learning from their previous experience, Rizal planned for more efficient pit stops and it worked out well. If it weren’t for the accidents they had at Turn 1 and Turn 10 at the track, the team would have achieved a better result as Muzamil was leading in the Class C category before he had the accident at Turn 10. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic achievement considering the competition against very experienced drivers.

From then on the cousins decided to make MME an annual event for the team. No limited funds and workforce will stop these guys from taking part and performing well.

The Team in the earlier days

Its second act

MME 2001 - The Debut

Making their debut with only less than 10 members and a very limited budget in the in the 12-hour endurance race in 2001, the cousins joined by another driver, William Chong under the management of their friend and Team Manager Rizal Abd Rashid, finished 8^th in the overall Class C category.

Muzamil who enjoys working on his car engine ever since he got the 1.6 Toyota Corolla SEG in 1996 was responsible in preparing the engine for the MME, emphasizing on the brakes, suspensions and getting the car lighter with the help from their personal mechanics. He even went all the way to Hong Kong and return on the very same day to get parts for their car. That was how passionate these guys were, willing to go the extra mile for their fast car. Approached by an agent for small sponsorship to aid their team financially, they went for it without any hesitation. This time the cousins pretty much have to stick to the standard engine set up due to SIC rules in contrast to a more flexible race at Batu Tiga.

Being involved for the first time in such event, the team lost a lot of time on account of the pit stops they made throughout the race. The problem of not being equipped with a fuel catch tank resulted in some fuel surge problems during the second half of the race was another difficulty they faced. Nonetheless, despite all the challenges, they still manage to complete the race among the Top 10 in the Class C category.

Making its first appearance

Front profile of THE Toyota Corolla SEG

How it started

It all started circa 1999 when Muzamil drove all the way from JB to meet up with his cousin Cassim for their regular Saturday Night races at the Batu Tiga track, where racing avids were able to quench their adrenaline thirst by making 5 hot laps in their road cars.

It was when Muzamil first heard that Sepang International Circuit (“SIC”) was having the very first Merdeka Millennium Endurance ("MME") Race in year 2000 that he had the bold idea of transforming the 1.6 Toyota Corolla SEG he owned (and in which he drove to work every day) into a racing machine for real. Sharing this idea with his then 26 year-old cousin, Cassim couldn’t be any happier as he has always dreamt of driving in the fast lane without having to sacrifice his own ride. It was merely an idea that they kept secret from their parents and started putting their heads together for the preparation and racing strategy to turn their dream into a reality. They recruited their brothers, cousins and friends and formed their very own team.