Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
I have done it all, from Go Karts to racing cars, including Formula and touring cars, there’s nothing left unchecked – unless, well, you include rallying and racing bikes – and those are for brave souls. I’ve raced in the big leagues and fast cars – I have driven in GT (Grand Touring) cars such as Porsche, Astons, and the V8s, and I have travelled worldwide to do that. I was a stunt driver for Wheelcorp and did the ‘Italian Job’ around the course at their new MINI showroom.
[Images provided by Natasha Seatter]
[Image provided by Natasha Seatter]
“My dad asked me if I wanted to race, despite the tight competition and potential crashes it may involve. My answer, without a doubt, was… “Yes”. That was when it all started.”
My dad introduced me to my very first Go kart race. I still remember being a young girl in glasses, and the nervousness I felt was overwhelming. I spent the majority of the following years of my life racing, and it has moulded me into the person I am today.
Racing is a career that requires total dedication
[Image provided by Natasha Seatter]
“You must be meticulous about everything – your fitness, what you eat, the amount of sleep you get, and even the time you have to socialise with your friends are restricted.”
You need to constantly remind yourself how much you want it and that it is necessary to make sacrifices. It was also necessary to meet and network with a lot of people. Growing up with motorsports, you learn to know a car inside out and are always ready to get your hands dirty. You end up learning to become a practical person.
[Images provided by Natasha Seatter]
“As racing drivers, we wake up at six in the morning and run a minimum of 10km each day, after which we have breakfast, make plans for content to put up on social media; we schedule photoshoots, then have lunch, and because we’re not always able to practise on the track, we do a lot of simulator driving.”
In the event of an upcoming race, we will be spending hours practising on the tracks. In the evenings, we practise yoga and do mental exercises where we visualise what we want to achieve in terms of the race; we think about the track – the gears, the foot, and are aware of the ‘clock time. Every other day we’re either training in the gym, swimming, practising Kung Fu, meeting clients/sponsors or doing photoshoots; the list goes on. Weekends are reserved for Sim (simulation driving) testing or race craft conditioning, like a friendly go-karting session with teammates.
[Images provided by Natasha Seatter]
Imagine your mind as a muscle; if at any time you feel that your body is getting tired, your mind will think it’s tired. If you aren’t fit enough, your mental state will deteriorate when driving. It isn’t just about having large muscles but muscles that can withstand long periods of strain when driving with zero-g forces. You need to remain focused at every moment when you are driving: when you need to brake, when to accelerate, being alert of who’s behind and in front of you; there are a hundred and one things going through your mind at one point.
Being a female in a male-dominated sport is challenging
[Image taken by the author, Mushamir Mustafa]
In regards to accidents – I’ve had two! The first one, I broke both my wrists when Go Karting in Thailand, and another one where I flipped and was thrown out, ending with a nasty concussion. It’s never easy, but if you’re an adrenaline junkie, it can be a very rewarding career.
“The most emotional moment I’ve had so far was becoming the first female to win the PFX (Petronas Formula Experience program) four times in a row.”
It secured me a two-year contract with Petronas, and I became the first female driver to be contracted by Petronas in 2010.
[Image provided by Natasha Seatter]
Her Advice For Those Who Want To Achieve Their Dreams
My most memorable cars are the Lotus Type 211, the Porsche Carrera GT3 Cup Car, and the Radical SR8 Wolf. I love big trucks and SUVs. I love racing, but if you don’t get picked by the age of 11, it’s hard to break into F1. Lewis Hamilton was selected at the age of 11. So my ultimate aim is to become a successful businesswoman, preferably in the automotive industry.
My advice to the people who want to achieve their dreams would be:
” Don’t be afraid if there’s a sport or business opportunity you want to do. It’s a risk, not taking a risk. Whatever you set your mind to doing, don’t be afraid of the outcome or of what others have to say, you have to get through it, and you will succeed. Whatever hurdles you face, you will encounter them then and there, and every step is a learning curve. So take the positives and move on to the next. Don’t squander your youth; take every opportunity while you have time and energy.”
Know anyone with an interesting story to share? Drop us an email at hello@inreallife.my and we may feature the story!
For more stories like this, read:
How Achieved Are Malaysians When It Comes To Gender Equality In Sports?
From Champions of Formula Racing to Starting A Digital Agency – Here Are 5 Lessons They Learnt
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