The unmistakable Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia
Malaysia, Sep 2nd 2012 – As the hot summer months in the United Arab Emirates precludes most forms of competitive track activity as temperatures climb well above 40C, unfair to both drivers and machines, GulfSport Racing took themselves off to Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit.
In association with Yas Marina Circuit, UAE based GulfSport Racing, whose principals have been involved in local and international motorsport since 1978, moved its Formula Gulf 1000 young driver development operations to the Sepang International Circuit. The weather is more favorable and motorsport is well established in South East Asia, consequently there is a mature and active scene for kart racers and junior racing drivers.
The 2011 Formula Gulf 1000 race season had attracted a young Malaysian driver, Natasha Seatter, who went on to become the first woman ever to win a national car race in the UAE. Her father, also an accomplished racing driver in S.E.Asia believed that the focus on driver development in the Formula Gulf 1000 camp was such that this capability would be welcomed in S.E Asia and with his encouragement GulfSport shipped more than 6 tons of Formula racing cars and equipment to the 14 year old Sepang International Circuit.
Rookies from Malaysia test the FG1000 car
The June test sessions attracted many young Malaysian racing drivers, some of whom were already racing in single seaters. As it became clear that the FG1000 car was lighter and more powerful than the car they were used to driving in their own race series, it got a big ‘thumbs up’ from the drivers. Nabil Jeffrey and Irfan Ilyas, who are both currently running in the top three of the standings of the JK Racing Asia Series were hugely impressed with the car’s performance.
Apart from the driver development focus, another reason the UAE’s national single seater championship is starting to make its mark on the International racing scene is that success is based purely on driver ability; not how much money they have.
All FG1000 cars are identical in setup and run by one team, so there are no discernible differences in performance. Gulfsport employs one of the world’s leading driver coaches to support drivers during their events, sharing data and in-car video so they all know how fast laps are achieved. This creates a ‘fast-track’ driver development process that delivers the equivalent of two or three traditional season’s learning in just one season, equipping drivers with the knowledge and experience to compete at the next level of the sport e.g. Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula 3.
The August training sessions initially focused on some of the top local kart racers who had no prior experience of driving a vehicle with a clutch or gears. As racers naturally go full throttle down the straights, it is the ability to simultaneously brake and change down through gears whilst blipping the throttle, and of course steer the car through corners with complete perfection that distinguishes the best drivers from the average ones. It’s a challenging and crucially important technique that takes time to learn.
Female Malaysian driver Natasha Seatter set the fastest lap at 2:09.7
In addition to training Malaysian karters, race drivers from the UAE, South Africa, S.E.Asia and Iran enjoyed testing on the full Formula One Grand Prix circuit where Natasha Seatter set the fastest lap at 2:09.7.
Pre-season testing for 2012/13 Formula Gulf 1000 takes place on 7th October at the Yas Marina Circuit, with Rounds 1 & 2 on 9th November at the Dubai Autodrome.
