SHAH ALAM – A touching moment between national rider Hakim Danish and Finland’s Rico Salmela has captured hearts worldwide, as a video shows Hakim teaching his fellow racer to recite an Islamic prayer.
This heartwarming interaction, shared by @zkracing on Instagram, portrayed the bond that transcends borders and cultures, even in the fast-paced world of motorsports.
The video, originally filmed on May 12 during the Red Bull Rookies Cup Race 2 at the Le Mans Circuit in France, was recently reposted across various social media platforms.
One Instagram user, @islamic, captioned it: "Muslim racer Hakim Danish from Malaysia teaching his fellow racer Rico Salmela how to pray."
The clip has since gone viral across Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, touching viewers with its simplicity and warmth.
Hakim, who was recently crowned the winner of this year’s Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, had another reason to celebrate.
In a thrilling race, he finished a full six seconds ahead of his closest competitor, sealing his victory in Race 2 of the event.
His impressive performance saw him battling alongside Spanish racer Brian Uriarte, taking an early lead, and soloing through to the finish line.
The podium, held in Aragon, Spain on Sept 1 saw Hakim grabbed first place, with Uriarte in second and Salmela in third.
"I managed the race well today and felt very confident with my machine.
"I want to thank the Red Bull Rookies crew, ZK Racing, SIC, Rider Formation, and everyone who supported me. Yesterday was National Day, and this victory is for all Malaysians," the 17-year-old reportedly said, dedicating his success to his home country.