Malaysia will need some 15 to 20 years before local talent is set to re-enter the highest stage of international open-wheeled racing that is Formula 1, said Sepang International Circuit (SIC) CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif, in reference to the country’s only racer to have competed in Formula 1 so far, Alex Yoong.
The aim of placing a driver in Formula 1 is not a short-term project, Azhan said, while noting that in terms of racer development, there is a tendency to push a racer to climb from one category of racing to the next in a hurry, though instead time should be given for the racers to hone their skills in every code they enter, the CEO of SIC said, as reported by Harian Metro.
Every time a racer takes part in Formula 4, F3, F2 and ultimately F1, substantial financial support is required, said Azhan. “In short, the development of Formula 1 drivers will need the support of private and government firms,” he said. To this end, SIC under his leadership will work toward ensuring that talent development for four-wheel racing will not fall behind that of motorcycle racing.
What is the outlook for hosting Formula 1 races in Malaysia again in the future, following its last running in the 2017 season? According to the boss of SIC himself, the organisation is yet to have a clear view.
“If one day Formula 1 is interested in making a return to racing in Malaysia and the offer is attractive and right for consideration, then (SIC) will discuss the matter with the government. This is because the fees for hosting Formula 1 are very high compared to the fees for MotoGP, and the decision for whether or not Formula 1 returns to Malaysia should be made holistically,” said Azhan.
Beyond the pinnacle of open-wheeled racing, Malaysia has numerous other racing drivers in different categories, not least of them multiple championship-winning driver Karamjit Singh who has won titles in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and the Production Car World Championship.
More recently, Malaysia also has younger talent such as Mitchell Cheah who raced in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCR) for Team Engstler, while Fariqe Hairuman won the TCR Spa 500 with the Cupra Leon TCR of Viper Niza Racing in the Pro-Am class in 2019. Viper Niza Racing fielded an all-Malaysian entry of drivers that year, where Fariqe was joined by Melvin Moh and Dominic Ang in the team owned by Malaysian entrepreneur Douglas Khoo.
In sports car racing, Ang won the overall title in the ST-1 class of the 2011 Super Taikyu series in Japan with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Petronas Syntium Team, alongside teammates Nobuteru Taniguchi and Masataka Yanagida, and the Malaysian would go on to make it three consecutive Super Taikyu victories with two more title wins in 2012 and 2013.
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Don’t talk about 20 years later. Even Alex Yoong wasn’t ready for F1, being more of a scorer for DNQs than points. Having a paid driver (paid by taxpayer’s monies) on the paddock was simply a shiok sendiri project by PM4, but we never got any benefits from it unlike Petronas technical tieup with F1 winning AMG initiated by PM6. IMHO This is the better way into F1 and not rehashing shiok sendiri projects.
Alex Yoong? An F1 driver?? HAHAHAHAHA.
A group of us were at Silverstone in 2005 I think. The curator of the gallery boasted to know EVERYTHING about F1, and told us to ask him anything. So we did. And he answered all of it, and correctly. When asked who was Malaysia’s F1 race driver, he failed to answer.
Alex Yoong was a sponsored driver, to an also-ran team, by Magnum. That was all it was. He never amounted to a challenge for anyone.
I believe he said Alex Yoong wansn’t an F1 driver.
No more paying for F1 hosting from Govt coffers. Many things can be done with that amount of money for the rakyat.
SIC can do anything n host anything they want… but not with Govt funding. SIC is a private enterprise. FInd your own way to finance it if it is really feasible.
Malaysia Boleh
Stupid la, grassroots also didn’t get much support to build potential talents. U have so many good drivers. Alex Yoong was ok, then Karamjit Singh u just throw him to the side.
Forget about it man… Don’t waste time and money
I think this is realistic target. Our country is not like many other developed/economy rich country where their corporation will support local sportsman and woman. Malaysia is still relying on government support. Government cannot spend taxpayer money lavishly, but government still need to spend some money to support the sport.
To those who bash this idea may extend their effort to help our sportsmen and women by becoming their sponsors. Citizens/local corporation sponsorship will be much more sustainable for sports.
Kayuh pelan pelan to 20 years, ya.
Ferrari employed Vettel, because Ferrari sells a quite a lot of cars in Germany. It’s more or less an advertisement campaign. There were a lot of good drivers in the past, which had to leave F1 because they didn’t comply with the sponsors goals.
F1 as an institution to gain national pride is dead since the 1960s or even earlier.
alex yoong, that boy is a shame, cant even drive straight. pls dont mentioned him, a disgrace to the country, waste of money might as well channel it to motogp programs!
“Malaysia has numerous other racing drivers in different categories, not least of them multiple championship-winning driver Karamjit Singh who has won titles in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and the Production Car World Championship.”
Karamjit was the first ever Asian driver to win an FIA World Championship Title for 4 wheels. He had actually achieved one of the highest accolades in World Rallying which is better than all the large number of single seat drivers supported by the govt to the tune of millions and millions.
All the Malaysian billionaires needs to start grooming their grandchild / great-grandchild to be an F1 driver. A lot of money is required to compete in F4-F2. If they are really good, merit will get them into an F1 team, no government sponsorship’s required.