Hamish Campbell delivered another outstanding performance this weekend at Sepang’s high-temperature, high-degradation circuit, as he secured a podium finish in Round 2 of the Rotax MAX Challenge Asia Trophy, now sitting fourth in the championship standings with three rounds remaining.
Campbell began the weekend by claiming pole position in qualifying, demonstrating impressive single-lap speed and race readiness heading into the heat races.
In Heat 1, Hamish pulled off a bold and decisive overtaking manoeuvre for the lead, showcasing his race craft and aggression. However, a minor lapse allowed a rival to slip past in the closing lap, and he crossed the finish line in a solid second place.
Heat 2 saw Hamish face adversity early on, after a competitor exited the track and re-entered, spinning him on the opening lap. Hamish dropped to last, but what followed was a recovery drive to admire. He carved his way back through the field and recorded a fourth-place finish—further highlighting his competitiveness and tenacity.
The Super Heat race was equally eventful. Hamish led for the majority of the race, dictating pace and maintaining control until a slight power slide in the final turn cost him valuable momentum. Despite an incisive fight-back attempt, he finished second once more.
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Starting on the front row for the Final, Hamish once again showed pure race-winning pace, setting the fastest lap of the race on lap four. Unfortunately, Sepang’s abrasive tarmac took its toll on his tyres. The aggressive early pace led to significant tyre degradation, limiting his ability to challenge for the lead in the closing stages. He settled for second, capping a weekend of consistently strong results.
Hamish now holds fourth place in the championship standings, trailing the leader by 25 points. With 128 points available per round in the remaining three, he remains very much in contention for the title as the season heads next to Bira on August 9–10. This coming round will be crucial, and Hamish will aim to convert pole positions into victories while demonstrating improved tyre management under pressure.
Hamish Campbell’s performance at Sepang reflects both outright pace and commendable resilience, reinforcing his credentials as a championship contender. As the Asia Trophy series presses on across 2 countries, Hamish, and his engineer Matt McLean, supported by Stratos Motorsport and OTK Asia, remain focused on closing the gap at the top and delivering on their Grand Final ambitions.
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