Like a lot of sports, motorsports constantly require new blood as even the best driver gets older and eventually retires. And it’s not just enough to draw the younger generation to racing but it is also important to develop them.
Hot Rocket Racing Club understands this and has announced the inception of a ground-breaking initiative – the Driver Development Program – which aims to identify and groom prodigious talent. The goal is to create world-class drivers capable of representing Hot Rocket in renowned racing events, both domestically and internationally.
The program primarily focuses on go-karting and sim racing, the former being where many world champions started off, while the latter is proving to be a 21st century training ground (as seen by the performance of sim racers in the Vios Challenge).
The platform for the talent hunt is the upcoming Buaya Endurance Race on the August 27, a go-kart event hosted by Hot Rocket Racing Club. This will be a 2-hour non-stop go-karting with 15 teams of 2 to 4 drivers each.
They will battle it out on a 1-km track, switching drivers every 15 minutes to clock as many laps as possible within the given timeframe.
Besides a prize pool worth RM10,000 for the triumphant teams, the greater reward for the top 15 performers will be a golden opportunity to don the Hot Rocket colours to compete at the Pinnacle Go-kart end-of-year 6-hour endurance race.
Ahead of the endurance race, every driver will undergo extensive training at the state-of-the-art circuit in Subang, Selangor. “This is no ordinary race but a high-stakes event watched by motorsport aficionados worldwide,” said Terry Kuan, Founder/President of Hot Rocket Racing Club.
“The focus is not merely on honing the racers’ skills but also on ensuring they are mentally equipped to tackle any adversity that comes their way during the race,” he added.
Explaining further, Kuan said: “Go-kart Endurance Racing is not merely about speed; it’s a blend of strategy, skill, consistency, and discipline. The sport requires careful arrangement of drivers with the best performing racers opening and closing the race, while the middle stint drivers maintain a consistent pace, guided by directives from the manager.”
“The manager’s role is vital in coordinating the drivers and deciding on race strategy, while keeping a keen eye on the competition. The timekeeper ensures every lap performance is recorded to maximize the stint and avoid penalties by not exceeding the time limit per stint. Thus, this sport demands not only driving skill but also robust teamwork and strategy,” Kuan stressed.
About the ‘Buaya’
Malaysians will know ‘buaya’ originates from the Malay word for a crocodile. ‘Buaya’ has its roots in the Hot Rocket community, where it is fondly used to label exceptionally fast drivers.
It is a fitting term as it symbolizes the way these racers exhibit a stealthy, elusive behaviour on the track, eerily reminiscent of a saltwater crocodile stealthily approaching its prey. The management team at Hot Rocket decided to honour these silent killers by dedicating an entire race to them.