The ceremonial start the evening at Plaza Angsana, Johor Baru officially marks the start of the International Rally of Johor 2018. All the 32 cars were flagged off by YB Liow Cai Tung, chairman of the women's development and tourism ministry of Johor. The rally is scheduled to start early Saturday Morning with 6 stages covering a 140 km loop through and flow Plaza Angsana and the Tai Tuk estate in Kota Tinggi. With all the action expected to heat up over the next 2 days it's not only about the cars and machine, it’s also pretty much a family affair.

Unlike circuit racing where its just a single person wrestling a car, rallying requires a driver and co-driver. This pairing in a rally car is crucial for the success in an event. Usually the pairing consist of close friends or even total strangers. To have family members in the rally car technically is the ideal pairing but in rallying anything and everything can happen.

Father and Son pairing of MRU motorsport head man Mohd Rafiq and Mohd Tarmimi Lee began competing together last year. Tarmimi though nervous at first caught the co-driving act quickly as the strict coaching used by Mohd Rafiq seems to work well when seem to be unstoppable in the stages.

Seasoned campaigner Gina Finanza Daud opted to take her 20-year-old daughter Izyan Zuhaily Zolkeple for the entire 2018 championship. Though Izyan is no stranger with the rallying scene with past experience helping mom in the service park, but sitting in the car with her mother and telling her to go fast is something entirely new. Gina’s aim to finish the rally as fast and as safe as possible.

A fresh face in rallying, Jusri Rusli and younger brother Saman Rusli embark on their first-ever event on loose surface. An avid motorsport fan, Jusri is a regular competitor in circuit racing events with wins under his belt decided to take up rallying a few months ago. Both Jusri and Saman will start the season in the classic car category with a Proton Saga.