Setting a high-profile pace for GT

Chinese electric vehicle brand NIO had a famous passenger in grabbing the spotlight on Sunday as the official pace car for the Asia GT Festival at Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur - the first time the China GT Championship has been held outside of China.

Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad rode in the NIO EP9 Grand Tourer pacer.

The electric-powered, two-seat sports car has broken a number of the speed marks, including setting the lap record at the famed test track in Nurburgring, Germany, clocking six minutes, 45.9 seconds in 2017.