When Formula One first arrived on our shores I, like a lot of others around, was one excited kid – fast cars, incredible pace, loud engines etc. All the hype, the glamour, the excitement!

But years after the F1 debut at Sepang, my interest has somewhat died off a little. You realize that most drivers are excellent, but a lot of it hinges on the unbelievable technology that is integrated into the vehicles. So the playing field isn’t exactly as leveled as what some would like to think.

Then came the A1GP. To be frank, I didn’t give much thought or notice to them other than the fact that their vehicles were slower. Poor marketing and coverage in the initial years also did little to interest me in the sport.

But as early as last year, I stumbled upon it again as I had to write about the A1GP, and found out that I was only right about the sport in some aspects.

For one, the vehicles are slower than their F1 counterparts, but that’s not the point in A1GP.

It all boils down to having an extremely level playing field. The teams are divided into countries and they all use the exact same engine, tires, chassis, etc. Hence the division between winners and losers comes down to the skills of the drivers, engineers, and team cooperation!

It’s quite like football really.

So I pounced on the chance to help do a coverage on the last Malaysian leg of the A1GP! I was given a photographer’s bib to put on, granting me access to nearly all parts of the track at any one time (as long as I’m not in the way)

So here’re some of the pictures:


Here, the ‘shooter’ and ‘targets’ walk off to their designated positions. As you can tell, my equipment was puny next to some of the rest there sporting huge telephoto lenses that are beyond my financial means!


This is the view from inside Team Malaysia’s pit, where all the tweaks, repairs, and strategic planning happens.


Before the event itself I had the opportunity to enter the VIP room where the ‘prize’ is. This is what everyone is competing for, the coveted A1GP trophy.


Back outside our Malaysian homeboy Alex Yoong is all focused on the goal as he watches the information screen above while engineers scurry to get his car ready.


And when all the cars are ready on the grid, the A1GP girls standby for their moment in the limelight. The only reason I knew they were coming out was because ALL the other photographers started congregating at that one spot!


TV Smith was there to capture the ‘action’ as well ;) I met him on my previous trip to Macau and he really does go places…he’s everywhere! You can take a look at his incredibly pictures here.


The A1GP girls were alright, but this right here, the Ferrari 599 GTB, is one killer of a car to see up close! It’s of course the official safety car for the A1GP, and I can see why. Simply delicious.




Naught to a hundred in 3.7 seconds…yummy! Even with that ridiculous “SAFETY CAR” sign at the back the car is a dead-on stunner. Jeremy Clarkson says it’s “senseless but sensational” and I must agree, why bother buying anything for practical reasons?

Back to A1GP, before the race begins, everyone prepares themselves differently.


Alex had last minute discussions with his engineers…




Others hydrated as much as possible…


And a few decided to chill out with the ladies~

But when the race begins it’s an all out war to the finish line…


Turn three saw team Australia chewing the dirt…


…but they got right on out there and back on the track.


“THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE”






Marshals do their bit to warn drivers on accidents.


The turnout wasn’t that great, and it’s all because a majority out there aren’t aware about A1GP’s concept. Here a fellow photographer takes a breather while the cars do their laps.

Yet another reason for my newly found adoration for all things A1GP is because they make it so easy for the media folks to either get an interview or access to snap photographs.

There is significantly less red tape and I hope it stays that way *grins*

For more pictures, jump on to my flickr site :)

The Opportunity

This Christmas was a really somber one for me as I went to church and thought about things over. Little things, big things, the whole works. I like going to church (*phew* says my pastors) because it provides the escape you need to just focus on your life, God, and decisions you’re about to make.

As you and I both know, right about now people are making resolutions for the new year. Some couldn’t be bothered for fear of making rash idealistic resolutions too difficult to achieve. Others figure out vague resolutions like “I will stop being a bad person” etc. I’ll gladly take the middle ground and work on something I think I can achieve.

That would consist of most of my resolutions, but I’d like to have a specific one or two that may sound incredible or ridiculously impossible. If anyone found out they’d call me foolish, naïve, or even being over-idealistic.

If you shared it with a friend they might just politely agree and support you despite their doubts. If you told your parents they might discourage you for fear of the hurt you might feel should you fail. The society in which we live in isn’t much kinder – most opinions are steamrolled over by the larger and more influential general consensus.

That’s the general problem with the “Asian mentality”.

The more you push, the more it pushes back. The only way is to quietly keep it to yourself and prepare. Lie nonchalantly when the words of doubts and discouragement fly overhead.

But when the right opportunity comes by you’ll be ready to grab it by its horns and never look back.

Post #111: Matters of the Heart

*sighs*

Amen.