Women racers get a head start

KUCHING: Determination and pure interest in cars turned two lasses into endurance race drivers.

Puteri Ayu Jasmin, 25 and Leona Chin, 22, were chosen to join the Red Bull Rookies team during the Red Bull Female Driver Search (RBFDS) last year.

The team ended sixth out of 26 teams in the last Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME) race in August.

"Most of the teams were seasoned drivers, while we were newbies from the Red Bull Female Driver Search," said Puteri Ayu at the launch of the new search on Saturday. She added that being part of the Red Bull Rookies team had taught her to be a responsible and disciplined driver.

Meanwhile, Chin, who has been working at the Asia Advanced Driving Academy said: "Most of my time revolves around cars and it finally paid off."

"Racing is not about speed but about having the right skills and how well you can handle a car."

The RBFDS is a recruitment drive to nurture female racers and prepare them to race in the Asia's biggest endurance competition, MME.

After Kuching, the search will be carried out in Malacca, Ipoh, Penang, Kota Bahru, Kuala Terengganu, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.

The chosen ones will be trained and groomed by Asia Advanced Driving Academy chief trainer, Kenvin Low.