With just five kilometers left to the finish line and a blown tire threatening their chances, Eastcoast Rallying x Piston Project delivered a gutsy performance to secure second place in the M3 category of the second round of the 2025 Malaysia Rally Championship, held as part of the Malaysia Festival of Speed (MFOS) at the Sepang International Circuit.
The team’s Honda Jazz GE had already endured a punishing setback during Special Stage 3 (SS3), where mechanical failure under scorching heat forced the crew to carry out urgent repairs with limited equipment. Despite the odds, driver Muhamad Roni Risman and co-driver Ir. Ts. Muhammad Syakirin Razaki pressed on, determined to close the time gap and complete every remaining stage through the rugged oil palm plantation terrain near Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
This marked the debut collaboration between Eastcoast Rallying and Piston Project—a team with a strong reputation on both local and international tarmac circuits. For Roni, who also owns Piston Project, the decision to continue racing on a damaged tire was a calculated risk.
“We had no choice. Either we quit early for something uncertain, or we finish this race with pride,” said Roni. “Our pace gave us a shot at the podium, but continuing with a blown tire was a gamble. We knew any time penalty at the finish line could cost us.”
Syakirin, a seasoned rally navigator and stakeholder in Eastcoast Rallying, described the decision as “madness,” but necessary.
“No racer wants to end with a DNF. We had to fight to avoid that outcome,” he said. “For rally drivers, whether here or abroad, the podium is a bonus. The real prestige lies in finishing the race—no matter how battered the car is. That’s the true challenge of rallying.”
The M3 category was ultimately won by Hasrin Tahir and Hendra Eryawan of the Bawang R Tune Mannol Rally Team, driving a Proton Satria Neo 1.6. Eastcoast Rallying x Piston Project claimed second place in their first outing as a joint team, while third went to R&R Sport Speed Garage, piloted by veteran Dinie Nazmi Abd Rahman and teammate Mohd Nazam Shah Sulaiman.
The Malaysia Rally Championship continues with rounds three and four scheduled for later this year, with Asahan, Melaka set to host the season finale.
