HOME STRETCH

Singapore's top race-car driver Melvin Choo speaks about giving back to the sport.

It was a sweltering 50 degrees Celsius and his heart was racing. Decked in regulation race attire of a thick fire-retardant suit and full-face helmet, Mr Choo remained a picture of calm despite the trying conditions in this oven-like environment where racing drivers push their vehicles and themselves to go faster.

"The cockpit of the car is where I'm in my element," said the 42-year-old, who has raced extensively throughout the world.

In 2008, he put Singapore on the international racing map by becoming the first Singaporean driver to race and score points in the World Touring Car Championship. In the same year, he also raced in three other high-profile motorsports events: the Asian Touring Car Series, Aston Martin Asia Cup, and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia where he finished second in Class B.

Finding identity

Born overseas, Mr Choo began living in Singapore only in 2000. It was a decision which he put down to having served National Service (NS) from 1988 to 1990.

"NS was a life-changing experience; I learnt to be more of a Singaporean and really found myself during that period of time," said Mr Choo, who was trained to be a signaller with the 4th Singapore Armoured Brigade.

He spent the next 10 years after NS back in San Francisco, United States, where his parents are based and where he started his own businesses. "Without NS, I probably wouldn't have wanted to come back but NS gave me some identity and made me want to come home."

Giving back

Now living in Singapore and as a father of four young children aged one to six, he is semi-retired from racing. "Every year it became harder to go racing because as a professional driver, it's an obligation which takes you away for six months each year."

These days, he tries to reach out to aspiring drivers. "Previously, I had this race-car mentality - that it was me against the world - but as I unwinded from my racing career, I wanted to reach out to them and try to help them in areas ranging from the actual driving (techniques) to sourcing for sponsorship."

According to Mr Choo, the local motorsports scene is nascent at best. "Infrastructure is one of the biggest issues," he said, highlighting the lack of a proper karting track in Singapore.

"My point to the younger drivers is to always be humble and be realistic about what they can do. It's easy to exaggerate but it usually backfires."

In the heady world of racing, more so than in life, backfiring is a serious no-no.