JOHOR BAHRU, 13 August – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) continues to broaden students’ exposure to real-world experiences through Motorsports Talk 2.0 2026, an engagement session that brought students closer to the world of high-performance international motorsport.

Held at the Raja Zarith Sofiah Library (PRZS), UTM Johor Bahru, the session featured YAM Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Panglima Johor, and YAM Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Putera Johor, who shared their experiences and Johor Motorsports Racing’s (JMR) journey in competing on the international stage, including the discipline, strategy and resilience required to perform at the highest level.

The programme was organised in collaboration with QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd (QSR Brands) and followed JMR’s recent achievements, including its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it finished 14th in the LMGT3 class, before becoming the first Malaysian team to win the Pro-Am category at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

JMR’s recent podium finish in Belgium has added significance to this year’s Malaysia Day celebrations, as the achievement by YAM Tunku Panglima Johor and YAM Tunku Putera Johor carried Malaysia’s name onto the international stage. The accomplishment exemplifies the spirit of excellence, determination and resilience associated with JMR’s journey.

UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, said motorsport was often associated with speed and winning, but its significance extended beyond performance on the track.

“Motorsport is where engineering meets data, where technology meets strategy, where precision meets pressure, and where passion must be matched by endurance,” he said.

“Success in motorsport is not built in one lap. It is built through preparation, discipline, resilience and the determination to keep going. That is what makes motorsport such a powerful learning environment,” he added.

Prof. Shafry said JMR’s journey also offered students lessons in mental strength and the endurance required to recover when things do not go according to plan.

“At UTM, our responsibility is not simply to produce graduates who know. We must produce graduates who can do. Graduates who can apply knowledge, solve real problems, work across disciplines, adapt under pressure and create impact,” he said.

He added that UTM continued to strengthen experiential learning, industry engagement, research and innovation, enabling students to understand not only what they learn, but also what they can do with what they learn.

During the interactive question-and-answer session, YAM Tunku Panglima Johor and YAM Tunku Putera Johor also shared insights into the importance of meticulous preparation as the foundation for confidence. The session focused not only on motorsport achievements but also on the values behind JMR’s journey, particularly the “never give up” attitude, discipline, teamwork, preparation and resilience required to compete in high-pressure environments.

The session also highlighted the range of opportunities within the motorsport industry, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, management, communication, marketing, business, psychology, safety and talent development.

The engagement continued outdoors at the PRZS main entrance, where a JMR high-performance car was displayed. YAM Tunku Panglima Johor also engaged with students in a technical question-and-answer session, explaining the real-world application of classroom theories.

The collaborative spirit of the programme was also reflected in the participation of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of QSR Brands, Nehchal Khanna. As the partnership between KFC Malaysia and JMR enters its seventh year, Khanna said the success of JMR demonstrated the discipline and perseverance required to shape future leaders.

“By engaging directly with industry professionals and accomplished athletes, students can see how classroom knowledge translates into real-world opportunities,” he said.

The programme concluded with a meet-and-greet and signing session, providing students with an opportunity to interact personally with YAM Tunku Panglima Johor and YAM Tunku Putera Johor, followed by refreshments provided by KFC Malaysia.

In line with the UTM ASCEND 2030 Strategic Plan, the relationship with JMR also provides an avenue to connect UTM’s strengths in knowledge, talent and its academic ecosystem with real-world experience, international exposure and a high-performance environment.

The synergy is expected to create more opportunities for students to learn, explore and gain experience beyond the classroom, while strengthening the connection between academic knowledge, industry exposure and high-performance environments.