Get a chance to race in these formula cars. (Photo courtesy of 235 Energy)
If you are 16 and above, and never thought that you could ever go racing, you might want to think again. A chance to become part of the electrifying Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix night race weekend is up for grabs through the 235 Energy Singapore Race Driver Search.
Last year, for the first time, Singaporean females were offered the chance to earn a seat in the Red Bull Rookies team at the Sepang 1000KM endurance race. Then there was the inaugural OCBC Corporate Karting Challenge where anyone (regardless of gender or nationality) above the age of 18 could form a team under a company to race in rental karts in a four-hour kart endurance race.
While plans for the Red Bull Rookies Search 2012 are being put in place for an under-25 three-country hunt among Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei for an all-male as well as an all-female team, the latest racing opportunity aside from cars and go-karts was announced last Friday.
Open to all Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans above the age of 16, the 235 Energy Singapore Race Driver Search aims to seek talent in the average guy or girl off the streets. The prize: a drive in the JK Racing Asia Series, which is a support race to the Singapore Grand Prix in September. It is also a junior single-seater racing championship — the level which go-karters usually progress to next in the direction of Formula 1.
Upon submitting their entry forms with proof of purchase of eight cans of 235 Energy, hopefuls will go through a psychometric evaluation where they will be screened through physical and mental tests. The search will then narrow down to the next phase which consists of a go-karting and simulator challenge.
After these assessments, finalists will go for testing and on-track evaluation in the single-seater with professional racing team Eurasia Motorsport, which has developed successful drivers such as Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo in the earlier stages of his racing career.
A typical Formula 1 racing career starts with go-karting, before entering single-seaters at the junior level (such as the JK Racing Asia Series) to more advanced levels like Formula 3 and the likes of GP2 then Formula 1 if things go right. Motor racing is expensive and 235 Energy thought sponsoring the driver search would help "to make motorsports more accessible to the masses".
Having seen many drivers give up their racing dreams when they run out of funds, 235 Energy has a long-term vision to replicate this search in different countries and form a team of drivers in each country to eventually be part of a junior formula car race series that will be a path to Formula 1.
"I think this is a great initiative which Singapore has been lacking all this while and I'm sure there are many racing enthusiasts who will welcome this. The search also extends to a new segment beyond the motorsports enthusiasts — people who have never considered racing before," said Shaun Seah, 24, an engineering undergraduate at the National University of Singapore (NUS) who used to race in go-karts when he was younger.
"Most of our young and very talented kart racers have been unable to move any further because their families cannot afford the next level of racing costs. There is hardly any financial support available to our motorsport talents and this 235 Energy Singapore Race Driver Search provides a valuable platform to get involved in motorsports," he noted.
From karting, Seah wanted to move up to Formula BMW but the high costs impeded the progress and dashed his racing dreams. Eager to relive that dream, the student will be giving the contest a shot. He is also the president of the NUS Motoring Club and will be working with 235 Energy on their school programme to educate students about motorsports. The 235 Energy Singapore Race Driver Search will go around visiting schools to conduct talks and offer one student per school the chance to skip the psychometric evaluation and head straight to the second stage of the competition.
Confident of his chances, Ron Tay, a 33-year-old engineer who has gone for track days before and regularly races in go-karts for leisure since 1999, was quick to sign up when he heard about the search.
He said, "I found out about the 235 Energy Singapore Race Driver Search through a friend during a karting meet-up and I thought this search gives a fantastic opportunity to those interested in motorsports. A lot of money is needed to compete in motorsports, especially as you go higher, and this search is offering a chance for a dream to be fulfilled. I think my chances are pretty good as my karting experience will prove useful if and when I get into Phase 2."
21-year-old student Cindy Koh was never a fan of motorsports but is keen to give the search a try. "I have friends who are crazy about motor racing and are actively participating in motorsports. Unlike them, I'm not all that familiar with fast cars and high speeds, neither have I taken part in any form of motorsports. However, when I learnt about this 235 Energy Singapore Race Driver Search I thought there wouldn't be any harm signing up. Who knows what potential I might have?"
Passionate about cars and motorsports, Cheryl Tay is a familiar face in prominent local, regional as well as international automotive titles. More of her at www.cheryl-tay.com.
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