Talking About The Future With Racer Kareen Kaur
The first Singapore female driver to ever enter a Formula 4 race, the pint-sized athlete tells us about her need for speed, being a girl in a male-dominated sport, and more.
The average Singapore teenager would probably be fretting over impending national exams, but Kaur isn’t like most teenagers. At 15, she’s already clocking speeds on racetracks that most adults can only dream of. Besides multiple podium finishes at international karting competitions, she’s currently Singapore’s fastest female driver in the senior category as well as our nation’s first female driver to race in Formula 4, or F4. In fact, her debut race in the entry‑level open‑wheel racing series will take place this month in India. Now what are her plans as she strives for Formula 1, or F1 – the pinnacle of motorsport racing that has seen only five female drivers in its history, the last of whom qualified in 1976? Gear up for her first fashion feature ahead!
Model or role model? We say both. Singapore teenage racer Kareen Kaur cuts a striking figure both on and off the tracks with her natural poise and laser‑sharp focus. The 15‑year‑old was the highest‑placing female driver at the ROK Cup Singapore 2024 championship – the local leg of the global karting competition of the same name – and is the first female driver here to be certified to race in Formula 4. Kareen wears cotton crotchet knit dress and Dior Empreinte calfskin boots, Dior. Slip dress (worn under dress), stylist’s own
HI, KAREEN! MOST GIRLS YOUR AGE WOULD BE FOCUSING ON THEIR GCE O LEVELS. HOW DID MOTORSPORT BECOME SUCH A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE?
“Racing has been a part of my life since I was nine. I discovered my love of speed when I was trying out fun karts at the now‑defunct The Karting Arena with my father. There, I was noticed and signed by a now‑defunct Italian racing team. This probably happened because I had beaten some of the adults who were also racing on site. There was no turning back after that. It has taken me years of hard work to get to where I am now, but I’ve never wavered under pressure or given up in disappointment simply because I’m passionate about racing.”
DO YOU SEE F1 RACING AS A CAREER IN THE LONG RUN?
“Absolutely. Being able to race in F1 is my ultimate dream and a long‑term goal. At the same time, I’m very realistic. My ambition is to have a successful professional career in top‑tier motorsport. Right now, that means focusing entirely on doing well in F4, then proving myself in the successive tiers that lead up to F1, which means Formula 3 and then Formula 2. My focus is on being in the present with a clear goal to the top.”
YOU’RE THE FIRST FEMALE IN SINGAPORE TO BE CERTIFIED TO RACE IN F4 AND HAVE EVEN STARTED TRAINING WITH THE CHINA‑BASED MOTOR‑RACING TEAM ASIA RACING TEAM. WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?
“It’s an incredible honour and also a big responsibility. Training with a professional outfit like the Asia Racing Team is a huge step up. And to be the first Singapore female at this level is something I’m very proud of. I hope it shows other young girls in Singapore that there is a place for them in motorsport.”
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE GOING FROM A KARTING CAR TO AN F4 CAR, ESPECIALLY FOR READERS WHO MIGHT NOT BE SO FAMILIAR WITH THE WORLD OF MOTORSPORT?
“It’s like learning a completely new language. A kart is very raw and relies on mechanical grip. An F4 car introduces aerodynamics. Suddenly, you have wings creating downforce, which means that the faster you go, the more the car sticks to the ground. This completelychanges your braking points and how you take corners. The F4 car is also much heavier and requires more physical exertion to drive, so the training has to be a lot more intense.”
WHAT IS A COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A COMPETITIVE DRIVER AT YOUR LEVEL?
“People often misunderstand the sheer physical and mental stamina it takes. The common misconception is that the car does all the work, but I’d say that equal input is needed from the driver. The car only does what the driver wants it to do. It takes a lot of training for us drivers to withstand huge forces on the neck and foot, and to make split‑second decisions while driving at 200 kmh and our heart is beating at 170 bpm. It’s a full‑body workout that requires the endurance of a marathon runner and the reflexes of a fighter pilot.”
HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR CAREER EVOLVING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
“The next few years are critical. The immediate goal is to perform well in the next few F4 races. I’m also exploring options to enter Grand Touring racing (which involves two‑seater, enclosed‑wheel cars). I’d like to understand how to control different types of racing vehicles.”
She is one of Singapore’s top female racers, but Kaur does not want to be defined by her gender. “When you’re fast, professional and authentically you, people’s preconceptions quickly fade away. They stop seeing you as a female driver and just see you as a competitor or a racing driver,” she tells us. Kareen wears polyester pea coat, matching bermuda shorts, wool knit top, and Shade lambskin and technical fabric boots, Dior
TELL US ABOUT TACKLING ASSUMPTIONS AND STEREOTYPES THAT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE MADE OR HAVE ABOUT YOU, A YOUNG FEMALE DRIVER.
“The best way to tackle any assumptions is with performance. I let my driving do the talking. When you’re fast, professional and authentically you, people’s preconceptions quickly fade away. They stop seeing you as a female driver and just see you as a competitor or a racing driver.”
YOU’VE SPOKEN ABOUT THE BANES OF BEING A GIRL IN A MALE‑DOMINATED SPORT. ARE THERE ANY BOONS?
“Absolutely. A big boon is the opportunity to be a role model. If my presence in the paddock inspires even one other girl to convince her parents to let her try karting, then that’s a huge win. It also allows me to bring a different perspective to the sport and perhaps catch the attention of potential sponsors who want to champion diversity in sports.”
IS YOUR YOUTH AN ADVANTAGE OR A DISADVANTAGE IN THE MOTORSPORT ARENA?
“I see it as a huge advantage. While someone older might have more experience, being young means I’m more adaptable. Driving an F4 car is completely different from driving a kart, and my ability to learn and adapt quickly is an asset. Physically, I can build a strong foundation for a long career. So while I may be at a disadvantage in terms of total years on the track, I believe my youth gives me an edge in potential and adaptability.”
YOU’RE ALSO STILL IN SECONDARY SCHOOL. HOW DO YOU JUGGLE RIGOROUS TRAINING AND THE SCHOOL GRIND?
“My secret is discipline and non‑negotiable time blocking. When I’m at school, I’m 100 per cent a student. When I’m training, I’m 100 per cent an athlete. I have to be very strict with my time to make sure nothing suffers. My parents are also a huge support system in helping me manage it all.”
AS A YOUNG PERSON GROWING UP IN SINGAPORE, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP CONCERNS NOW?
“My concerns are probably similar to those of many young Singaporeans. Firstly, there’s dealing with academic pressure, and the traditional and narrow definition of success. Secondly, there’s the challenge of forging a non‑traditional career path in a male‑dominated area. Thirdly, I feel that karting in Singapore isn’t very popular. There aren’t many local young karters and I’m concerned about this. The only karting track we have is set to close next year. After that, we’ll have no facilities left to accommodate karting and to grow the sport. I’m always racing overseas, but the local scene here needs to grow too.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WORD STARTING WITH “F” AND WHY?
“That’s easy: ‘focus’. In motorsport, focus is everything. It’s the ability to shut out all the noise and distractions, and execute a plan or a lap. It’s what you need to balance school and training. It’s the key to achieving any goal. Everything good in my life has come from being able to focus on what matters in the present.”
THIS INTERVIEW HAS BEEN EDITED FOR BREVITY AND CLARITY.
PHOTOGRAPHY LAWRENCE TEO STYLING PANG JIA WEI STYLING ASSISTANT CHRISTINA GRACE LAI HAIR & MAKEUP KEITH BRYANT LEE, USING KEVIN. MURPHY & DIOR BEAUTY