This article is in collaboration with Shell
I think Formula 1 racing is so popular because it combines two things that men (and some women) love. Speed and competition. That’s why every time, after we walk out of the cinema from watching Fast & Furious, we sit in our car and daydream of what could be.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to own a fast car. Some of us have budgets that we have to keep within or some have bigger considerations when buying a car. Like, whether or not it can fit a baby chair or whether or not the wife would approve of it.
The good news is that there are other safer ways to experience the speed, adrenaline and energy that comes with racing (no, I’m not talking about night racing) .
1) Rent a Ferrari
As a kid growing up, I’ve always wanted to own a Ferrari. I never really understood the difference between owning and driving. The benefits of driving one was clear. There’s the sound of the engine, the speed or just how damned good you look in one.
Owning on the other hand is something else altogether. As an adult, I learned that owning something doesn’t mean just enjoying it. Owning comes with the burden of taking care of it. Keeping it clean, servicing it and sending it to the workshop if something breaks down. Oh, and did I mention the hefty bill that comes with every workshop visit?
There is another way. You can rent one.
A few years ago I went to an Extreme Racing circuit in Las Vegas. There I got to drive a number of cars around a race track; a Ferrari 458 and a Lamborghini Gallardo to name a couple. I got to push some of the fastest road cars to its limit on the race track and I learned that the 458 handles much, much better than the Gallardo.
In KL, there are a few services that let you do similar things. Yep, you can really rent a Ferrari in KL for a day. To name a couple of companies that do that, check out here and here. Or you can check out Red Ribbon Days for them too.
They typically cost RM6-7K per day, which is a lot more expensive than what I paid for in the US, but I guess it’s because it’s cheaper to run on the race track than to go out on the road. Plus the fact that the cars are a lot more expensive in Malaysia than in the US.
2) Go for a drifting experience
One of the other things I did at the Extreme Racing circuit in Las Vegas was to get into a car with a professional drifter. My first impressions were poor. He was driving me in some beat up Corvette and I thought come on… how quick can this go?
Then he revved up and the following 2 minutes felt like 20 minutes to me. As the car attacked turn after turn, I was swung from side-to-side and if I wasn’t so busy scared of hitting a wall, I would’ve felt the urge to projectile vomit.
It felt like a roller coaster… but in a car. Again, you can get this from Ken Leong’s Drift School or Speed City in KL. If you want to take it a step further, you can even take a drifting class and learn how to do it yourself, starting at RM60 per driver.
3) Go for extreme driving lessons
In KL, there is this thing called extreme driving lessons where they teach you how to drive in extreme situations. Rather than just racing, it actually teachers you how to be a better driver and avoid accidents.
You can find out more details in courses like this at the School of Advanced Motoring Principles.
4) Bring your own car to Sepang for Track Day
I have a couple of friends that regularly bring their cars to Sepang to race around the track. It typically costs RM300 per session, but it’s subject to availability because they get a lot of demand.
You can check out the Sepang Circuit Official Website for more info.
One thing to take note is that they often tell me that every time they go, they find the need to completely change all their tires. So prepare for that bill at the end of that thrill.
5) You could pump up your car with Formula 1 fuel
Shell, with its 120 scientists and specialists around the world, has a high-quality fuel from its performance segment called Shell V-Power Racing. This top performance fuel was made from Shell’s learnings on the Formula 1 race track with Shell V-Power race fuel, which contains 99% of the compounds typically used in Shell V-Power Racing. The fuel is developed with its Technical Partners at Scuderia Ferrari and delivers maximum performance and protection benefits such as its Friction Modifier Technology (FMT). FMT is used in race fuel for Formula 1 cars and is designed to reduce friction by introducing a surface coating component, which protects critical engine parts. This makes for a more efficient energy transfer from the fuel to the wheels.
Although Formula 1 fuel is one of the most tightly controlled fuels in the world, you can now get a feel of it in your car with Shell V-Power Racing. It is actual Formula 1 fuel and this is something many people don’t realize about Shell V-Power Racing even though it has been in the market for over 10 years now.
I’ve used Shell V-Power Racing for my Audi TTS and it feels noticeably different. The car accelerates much quicker and smoother. And if you drive a performance car, some people have told me that the only fuel you should be pumping is Shell V-Power Racing because it takes better care of your engine. In any case, performance car or not, if you’re looking for a better driving experience in your car, you can find it in a better fuel like Shell V-Power. For more details about the fuel, read more about it here or check out the full list of stations offering Shell V-Power Racing and try it out for yourself.
Timothy Tiah – Co-Founder of Colony, Kuala Lumpur Co-Working Space