Motor Sports

Prolific Hayden hungry for more, has unfinished business in Thai Super Series

KUALA LUMPUR: Young race car driver Hayden Haikal has already bagged four titles in various championships this year but he is not done quite yet this season.

Hayden is eying another two more titles this year in the Super Eco as well as the GT4 class - both part of the Thailand Super Series - and will head to the Chang International Circuit in Buriram on Dec 13-15 for the deciding round for both series.

Hayden, racing a latest generation Suzuki Swift, currently leads the Super Eco standings with a 19 point advantage over his nearest rival.

The 20-year-old is driving a Mercedes AMG for Racing Aurora in the GT4 competition - shared with Australian Peter Hackett. The duo are currently fourth in the standings, 8.5 points behind championship leaders Prakhun Phornprapha-Warren Adulayavichitr.

Hayden achieved a rare domestic endurance double this season, winning both the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) Merdeka Race (with Gan Kim Koa and Lee Wai Cong) in August as well as the Sepang 1000 kilometres (S1k) last week, driving alongside Rahul Mayer and Daim Hishammudin for HI-REV Dream Chaser.

Hayden had also won the MSF Super 1800 title (with Kim Koa) this year as well as the Malaysia Championship Series title with HI-REV Dream Chaser

He, however, made it clear he is still hungry for more.

"It feels great to be able to win both (Malaysian) endurance races this season," said Hayden recently.

"Winning the S1K title with HI-REV Dream Chaser was extra special as it was the one Malaysian race that I had never won before.

"Driving in endurance races forces me to change my driving style and be smoother to conserve the car more.

"So far I have won four titles this season and there are only two more series (Super Eco and GT4) for me to compete in.

"I still have a realistic chance of winning both series and will remain focused until the final race is over.

"Hopefully I will be able to win them both, insyaAllah."

Hayden plans to move up to racing GT3 cars in the future and is hoping to compete in the GT World Challenge Europe series as well as the World Endurance Championships one day.

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