This week, CHERYL TAY tells you the story of Daim Hishammudin, a 10-year-old Singaporean who is good enough to sign for a professional karting race team in Malaysia
Va Va Vroom – March 19, 2009
IF DAIM Hishammudin grows up to realise his dream of becoming a Formula One driver, then Malaysia can take some credit for it.
The pint-sized 10-year-old Singaporean has signed up with BHPetrol.Iru1 Racing Team, a professional karting race team in Malaysia.
He is the only international driver in the team.
‘As a Singaporean, my ultimate goal is to be the country’s first F1 driver and I am ready to work hard for it,’ said Daim, a student at the Alice Smith International School in Kuala Lumpur.
‘I started fun karting when I was eight and got hooked on it. As I improved, my dad and I started looking around for different karting teams and we are pleased to be working with BHPetrol.Iru1 Racing Team for this crucial year.’
‘We are proud to announce our first international driver in the team,’ said team principal Nik Iruwan Dato’ Nik Izani, who was previously an A1 Team Malaysia tester and Formula BMW Scholar.
‘Daim has plans to defend his Cadet Champion title and win the Rotax Max Challenge this year. It will be tough, but he has been working hard and we have total confidence in him.’
Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that Daim’s father, Hishammudin Hasan, who works for Nestle Malaysia Sdn Bhd, was posted to Kuala Lumpur five years ago.
Compared to Singapore, the karting scene in Malaysia is much more developed and receives more support from corporate sponsors.
That laid the foundation for Daim, who is a self-confessed fan of Kimi Raikkonen.
Efforts
‘Whatever Daim has achieved so far is the result of our efforts in Malaysia. We weren’t too aware of the motorsports culture back in Singapore, but through friends we gathered that he could do with more support here,’ said Daim’s father Hishammudin.
‘With the absence of karting circuits in Singapore, Malaysia is a good platform for Singapore to develop its future champions,’ said Tan Teng Lip, president of the Singapore Motor Sports Association.
From young, Daim showed his fondness for cars.
When he was three, he would sit on his father’s lap and help steer the car as they drove round the neighbourhood.
At eight, he drove a fun kart at a track in Shah Alam for the first time and the rest is history.
‘I like karting because I like the feeling of being in control of the car and the speed thrills me,’ Daim told The New Paper.
Daim started competitive racing only in March last year at the Rotax Max Championship in Sepang.
But his first race ended prematurely when his engine died early in the race.
However, that did not stop him from signing up for 13 more races.
He got his first taste of victory at the Yahama SL Cup 2008.
In less than one year of racing, Daim already has four race wins, eight podium finishes and four pole positions, although it was not all plain sailing for him.
Daim met with an unfortunate accident towards the end of the pre-final race during Round Five of the Rotax Max Challenge in September last year.
‘I was in second position and was just 200 metres from the finish line when another competitor crashed into me from behind,’ recalled Daim.
‘Pain tore through my back and arms and I had no choice but to stop.’
Support
Despite the many dangers of karting, Daim has the full support of his family.
Family holidays are planned around his karting schedule. His father has also sacrificed his golfing sessions to accompany Daim to training and competitions.
‘We will support Daim as far as he can go. Racing is his passion and it keeps him disciplined and focused,’ said his mother Suhailah Hashim.
But like all parents, they want Daim to put his studies before his karting.
‘My mummy said I’ve got to do well for my examinations. Otherwise my kart will go up on the online auction site eBay,’ quipped Daim.
‘A university degree is a must for Daim. Now that he’s professionally managed, we believe that he can do well in his studies and at the same time, excel in motor racing.,’ said his father Hishammudin.
‘We will help him to achieve this balance.’
The writer is a freelancer.
Investing on a 10-year-old
HISHAMMUDIN Hasan knew that his son Daim has the makings of a future racing champion.
So the 39-year-old Singaporean, who works for Nestle Malaysia Sdn Bhd, took it upon himself to source for sponsors for his son.
‘When we knew that Daim wanted to take karting seriously, we knew we had to get sponsors for him,’ Hishammudin told The New Paper.
‘So I came up with a presentation and starting pitching my son to potential sponsors.’
His efforts did not go to waste as his presentation convinced companies such as Nestle, BHPetrol and Chemical Mate to sponsor Daim.
‘All the sponsors contributed about the same amount. At the moment, I’m talking to a few companies who are keen on promoting Daim as their ‘face’ to appeal to kids,’ said Hishammudin.
Now that Daim, 10, has signed up with BHPetrol.Iru1 Racing Team, a professional karting race team in Malaysia, as the only international driver in the team, more corporate sponsors are likely to come knocking on his door.
Parents
But when Daim first started out, his karting interest was financed by his parents.
‘Initially, we spent about RM 40,000 ($17,000) out of our own pockets investing in his first chassis, engines and driving gear, as well as enrolling him in training classes,’ said Hishammudin.
‘We spend an average of about RM 160,000 per season. This money is used for new engines and chassis, hiring a technical team, a trainer and a manager.
‘There are also logistical costs such as transporting the equipment and crew to races. And during the non-race periods, we have to pay for training and testing.’
For the 2009 season, Daim is backed by MCR Logistics, Nestle and Freight Mark.
The sponsors cover approximately 90 per cent of the total cost, leaving Hishammudin to pay for other costs such as airfare and accommodation when Daim competes in overseas races.
‘I would like to thank my sponsors for giving me the chance to pursue my dream,’ said Daim.
–CHERYL TAY
