Formula Drift Asia

Thanks to the folks from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), I attended the Formula Drift Asia event two weeks ago with Rachel, Mark and Brauns.

Rachel and I are not really race car or drift fans. We were really there to just soak in the atmosphere since both of us have not attended an event like Formula Drift Asia.

Mark and Brauns on the other hand, are car fanatics who enjoy spending all their spare cash on expensive cars and modifications. An event like this was right up their alley.

More about Formula Drift Asia:

Date: Jun 11, 2011 – Jun 12, 2011
Venue: F1 Pit Building
Official Website: http://www.formuladriftasia.com/

With a record number of 50 drivers hailing from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand. They will be going neck-to-neck for the championship title, promising audiences a thrilling demonstration of motoring talent and prowess. The audience will also get a chance to be closer to the action than in any other type of motorsport.

I asked Mark to write a review about the event as he will be more familiar with the topic. Here’s his candid remarks (his views do not represent my views ah). I strongly suspect Mark is trying to emulate famous car show host, Jeremy Clarkson’s acid commentary style here:

“What could have been a wonderful event to showcase Singaporean’s driving prowess is hampered by the republic’s ridiculous and exhorbitant charges on car ownership.

As a result, you see economically challenged countries like Malaysia and Thailand hogging the spotlight when their average citizen makes only a pittance compared to the republic’s citizens.

The cheap and readily available supply of used cars with no expiration date on ownership and large swathes of land make it conducive for them to practice drifting and other forms of motorsports.

In stark contrast, Singapore has hardly any space for “practice”, with the occasional sneaky practice done at desolated heavy vehicle car parks late at night. This is not ideal due to regular police patrols and conservative resident who frown upon any such activity which portray a negative image of wealthy young men terrorizing the public streets.

The event itself was rather orderly but the judges passing the results were ‘felt’ by the public to have been biased. An AE86 driver who visually performed better than the Toyota Chaser was not awarded victory, but since drifting is a part racing, part artistic showmanship sport, the results can be subject to argument at times.

Perhaps with the government shifting towards a vehicle usage charging mechanism instead of a ownership one, A Singaporean just might have a chance to take the spotlight instead of Singapore just being a prestigious venue for such events.”

Behind the cheeky remarks, you can sense that Mark is the true motor sports enthusiast here compared to yours truly. Clearly, frustration only comes with passion, with a  strong drive to improve the status quo.

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