De Diana Tamantini / Corsedimoto.com
In 2016, Khairul Idham Pawi, as a rookie in Moto3, became the first Malaysian Grand Prix winning driver. Now comes the time to retire, at only 22 years old and after four difficult seasons.
Khairul Idham Pawi decided to leave the racing world. The 22-year-old former Petronas Sprinta Racing rider, left without a saddle in Moto3 after another difficult year, has chosen to hang up his leathers. Unfortunately, it was a truly inglorious end for the first Malaysian driver capable of reaching the top of the world podium: He had managed to win a Grand Prix twice. It was the first step in what might have seemed like a promising career, but ended very quickly after many, too many, problems.
He had received the inheritance of Zulfahmi Khairuddin, the first to write a piece of history in the entry category of the World Championship. He was in fact the first Malaysian driver to take pole position and the podium (2nd after leading a good part of the race) in the World Championship, during the Portuguese GP in 2012.
“Great KIP”, as it is called, did even better: in 2016, its first global year, he triumphs in Argentina et repeat this success in Germany. Two Grand Prix characterized by heavy rains, which reward the one who becomes the first Malaysian winner at international level.
In 2017, however, he moved, perhaps too hastily, to Moto2. It doesn't shine either in the first two seasons of the intermediate category, and physical problems also arise in 2019. Specifically, he fractured his right wrist and little finger during free practice at the Spanish GP but It was particularly the injury to his finger that caused him problems, so much so that he will no longer participate in this season.
In 2020, he returned to Moto3, but continued to suffer with his right little finger, leading to an amputation after skipping the Austrian double round. In terms of the future, the situation is not improving: after the divorce with Petronas Sprinta Racing announced at the end of the season, there is now retirement.
The Malaysian channel Astro Arena was responsible for delivering the news, through a video recorded by the pilot himself. “It’s difficult for me,” begin Khairul Idham Pawi. He does not hide the disappointment about these last years, which were really different from what he had hoped for. “ When you see that some things cannot improve, it is better to think about retirement. I am proud to have become the first Malaysian driver to win two World Championship Grand Prix. But now I want to forget about racing and try to do what can make me happy, helping my father and my family. »
Read the original article on Corsedimoto.com
