Fellow Motorist: Shane Ang, race car driver, entrepreneur, and founder of the Shane Ang Racing team
Shane Ang, 40, is a professional race car driver, entrepreneur, and the founder of the Shane Ang Racing team.
This Fellow Motorist story is part of a series featuring the racing drivers from the Motorist-supported Shane Ang Racing team, a group of Singapore's best drivers who battle it out on track in some of Asia's toughest motorsport competitions.
How long have you been a motorist?
I can't remember, haha! It should be almost 20 years ago that I got my licence.
Do you remember your first car?
It was a Hyundai Avante, but my first proper car was a Toyota MR-S that I used to take part in grassroots motorsport events in the early days of my career.
This Toyota MR-S was Shane's second car, and the first car he used to compete with in grassroots motorsports, such as time attack events.
What do you like and dislike about being a motorist in Singapore?
I like that the majority of people follow traffic rules, which makes driving in Singapore relatively safe. But at the same time, due to this self-entitled "right of way", graciousness is massively lacking in general, and some would rather crash than give way.
What would be your ultimate dream car?
I would say the Mercedes-AMG ONE.
How long have you been racing?
I started in grassroots events 12 years ago, but I've been doing it professionally for the last seven years.
Shane (middle) won many grassroots racing events like this one early on in his career.
What has been the most rewarding part of racing for you?
Watching my dreams unfold step by step and winning championships that seemed unreachable when I first started.
And what's the most challenging part about being a racing driver?
Getting the right mechanical support to be competitive and the financial support to fund the mechanical edge.
Why did you start the Shane Ang Racing (SAR) team?
I want to create a team that provides the right pathway for Singapore's aspiring racers to race in international championships. As a Singaporean racer myself, I understand the difficulties of getting started.
So with my past experiences, reputation, and resources, I hope that there will be more Singaporean racers shining brightly internationally in the future.
Shane and SAR teammates after winning the 10-hour Super Endurance Southeast Asia Trophy in 2023 (from left: Ken Hooi, Shane Ang, Kenneth Ho, Aiden Chong).
What's next for you in your racing journey?
Personally, I would like to continue racing for as long as I can. But in the meantime, I would also like to create more opportunities for more people to enjoy the sport with me via programmes like The Racer Tour and SAR Academy.
What are The Racer Tour and SAR Academy?
The Racer Tour is a new venture between myself and my SAR teammates, Gladys and Aiden, where we host private weekend race experiences at a wallet-friendly rate. This is to allow both newcomers and seasoned trackers to feel what it's like to be a racer like us, while in a safer and less pressurising environment compared to a full race weekend.
The SAR Academy is a project that's in the pipeline to create a development ladder of sorts for local drivers to go from karting and sim racing to racing with us on the international stage. I like to think of it as our own version of the F3 > F2 > F1 ladder, haha!
Out of all the cars you've raced so far, which is your favourite?
It will always be my Honda Civic FK8 race car. It's not the most powerful, but we broke many records and had many unforgettable battles and championship wins with it.
What's your favourite race track?
I love the Bang Saen Grand Prix street circuit for its danger and technicality, but I also love the Song Khla Grand Prix street circuit for its amazing crowd over the race weekend.
Shane leading the pack in his Honda Civic FK8 race car at the Bang Saen Grand Prix.
Do you have someone you look up to in the racing world?
To me, Keiichi Tsuchiya is someone who really took the effort to publish many videos to educate the public on how to drive better. When I first started racing, I used to think he was just trying to sound profound for the sake of it, but as I progressed more and more, his theories and explanations made so much more sense and helped shape my core fundamentals as a pro driver.
What would you say to people who want to race like you?
Do not think of being a pro. Instead, enjoy the sport first. Immerse yourself in the thrill and excitement of motorsports and play within your means first.
If you are still deeply in love with the sport after doing this, then you start planning your career. Because it will be a tough road ahead, haha!
Shane and this teammate, Kenneth Ho, flying the Singapore flag after winning the Bang Saen Grand Prix, the highlight race of the Thailand Super Series.
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