General, Interviews, Motorsport Mondial, News
Motosports Mondial
March 13, 2012 f1weekly
STYLE SPEED SEATTER
From Lella Lombardi and Janet Guthrie to Michelle Mouton and Danica Patrick, ladies have come a long way in motorsports.
Meet Miss Natasha Seatter. The Malaysian racer recently became the first female to win a race in the United Arab Emirates. Seatter has been setting the pace from her younger days in karting and Formula BMW single-seaters.
F1Weekly would like to thank Natasha for taking her time to answer our questions, and wish her much success in her racing career.
Q. Congratulations on your victory in Formula Gulf 1000 race. Winning the race by passing championship leader and setting the fastest lap has to be very special feeling for you?
A. Thank you, it's true that winning races is every driver's goal but it takes a lot of training, hard work and persistence before that happens. Beating the championship leader is a real confidence booster for me and I really had to focus on not making any mistakes.
Q. Is this the biggest win of your racing life?
A. Quite honestly, yes. It was particularly important as it is my first international win since turning professional as a 17-year-old-rookie. You can call it a 'coming of age' in career terms. Now I feel I have proven my credentials as a senior competitor.
Q. What are your plans for rest of the season?
A. As far as Formula Gulf is concerned I just want to try and consolidate my experience and race strategy as a front runner. It's a different mentality to chase the guy in front than be hunted by the pack! Of course, getting on the podium is always my goal but a top three championship result is very important.
I have some junior driver training commitments mid-year in South East Asia and I will compete in some national events in Malaysia. It's also my dream to compete in Europe or USA so if I am given the opportunity and sponsorship to do so I would love to race with the world's best drivers in whatever category.
Q. Last two years you raced in Formula BMW cars, are you satisfied with the progress you have made as a single-seater racing driver?
A. Formula BMW is THE series for developing your talent as a professional driver. It is fast, competitive and really separates the men from the boys. I started at the back of the grid in my first year, but last year I was a top 10 driver and had several top 5 results. I have since had podiums in more advanced formula racing series so, yes, I am happy with my progress.
Q. You have also raced at the Ordos circuit in Chinese Mongolia; what was that experience like?
A. It was TOTALLY overwhelming from all aspects. It was my first ever experience racing at a higher level with some seriously talented senior drivers in very fast, turbo powered Formula car with huge levels of down force and grip compared to Formula BMW. It was also my first visit to the Ordos track in Inner Mongolia and that was also a strange experience from a cultural perspective. Fortunately, I was with my usual race team and they got me up to pace without any accidents or incidents. Although I only qualified p7 I managed podium finishes for both races. I didn't expect that!
Q. I understand you have also driven an F1 car; this has to be the most exciting experience for any young driver?
A. Wow, yes those cars are awesome. I was selected by Lotus group to participate in a testing with their T125 car in Abu Dhabi at the beautiful Yas Marina circuit. I was so lucky as my driver coaches were ex-Formula 1 legends, Nigel Mansell and Jean Alesi. I really learnt a lot from them when we raced together on circuit as part of the training and assessment program. They treated me as a proper racer after that and I felt very good about it.
Natasha with mom and dad, he is from the land of Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart.
Q. Your passion for motorsports comes from your dad; please tell us about his racing activities?
A. Dad is a GT racer, closed wheel, limited down force but lots of raw power. He participated in the Malaysian Super Series and for several years he achieved the occasional podium. However, last year he was on the top step of almost every race and I am proud to say he won the Open Class Championship in his Mazda GT.
This year he is doing the classic car racing series in his 1969 Lotus Élan. It's a very fast car with terrific handling and can even keep up with today's modern Lotus Elise! My Dad lets me help set up his cars, so that's fun.
Q. Not so long also, at the age of 12 your dad took you to a Rotax karting event; what do you remember most from that important day in your life?
A. I can still remember that day vividly. There was a lot of noise, speed, hustle and bustle. The drivers looked like such heroes to me and I asked my Dad if there was something girls could do like that. I will never forget his reply when told me girls could also participate in the same event if they were prepared to be as brave as the boys. I made my mind up right there and then to be a driver.
Q. After starting in karting yourself, how long was it before you decided to pursue racing as a career?
A. I was offered a chance by Petronas to participate in their Formula BMW young driver PFX series when I was 15 years old. At the end of the nine month training I won 1st place in all four PFX races (first ever in history) and I was the only female racer! And was offered a sponsored drive with Petronas in the 2010 Formula BMW series. That's when I decided to make racing my career.
Q. You have two sisters; are they also planning to follow in your racing footsteps?
A. Ha ha, no way! All of us did karting for the first year but they preferred running tracks and team games to motor racing. Actually they win lots of gold medals and are really good athletes. My sister Kat is a varsity player in volley ball and my youngest sister Shaz is a champion 400m runner and plays rugby.
Q. Sepang circuit in your country is very nice; how popular is karting and single-seater racing among the local community?
A. Malaysians are seriously crazy about all their motorsports including motor bikes. We have several circuits for cars, bikes and karts and the grids can be quite packed. Now we also have lots of Japanese and Chinese racers coming over to participate in our international events so it's true to say that Malaysia is on the motor sports map.
Q. You have raced all over Asia, is the competition in Japan tougher than other Asian countries?
A. Japanese drivers are very competitive, have great training to hone their skills and are ruthless on track. They can't stand losing as it's a great loss of face so they give everything (and often a little bit more). I love racing and winning in Japan but you have to get ahead very early in the race or you will get taken out.
Q. According to your Facebook page, you are also a trainee pilot; given the choice what will be your preference; pilot of a jet liner or pilot of an F1 machine?
A. No hesitation about that, F1 pilot! Now if you had included being an aerobatic pilot in the Red Bull air racing series I might have hesitated!
Q. There is a lot of Girl Power in motorsports, you, Michele Bumgarner of Philippines, Vicky Piria of Italy, Michelle Gatting of Denmark, are you friends with any of these lady racers?
A. I would love to meet them one day!!
Q. Where would you like to be racing in five years?
A. I would like to be involved in Indy Cars in America. Danica Patrick has left a huge vacancy with her switch to NASCAR. It's such a huge series and Americans are so passionate with terrific crowds and sponsorships and there are not many females in the sport!
Special thanks to Natasha's PR Manager Mama Datin Ida for her help in this interview.
— Nasir Hameed
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General, Motorsport Mondial, News
Motorsports Mondial
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Force India drivers thoughts on Melbourne
Paul Di Resta
Paul, after three winter tests you must be keen for the season to finally begin…
Yes, the build-up to Melbourne has been a while coming, but at the same time it doesn't feel like there's been that much testing. In fact, compared to last year, there has been one less test, but it's been a good winter for us in general.
You made your debut at last year's Australian Grand Prix – what memories do you have going back there a year on…
It's a great place to start the season and the fans always get behind the race, so it will be interesting to see how it feels second time around. After a good winter break I'm just looking forward to getting back to the racing.
What are your thoughts on the circuit?
I enjoy the circuit. There's a good balance between high and low speed, plus it's a mixture between a street circuit and a permanent track, and that makes it quite unusual. I think the final sector stands out for me as the most interesting because it's quite tricky and easy to get it wrong. We were strong on street circuits last year, especially Singapore, so hopefully that will continue
Any idea of the pecking order yet?
I don't think anybody can say they know for sure. All the teams around us look strong and have been consistent in testing, so we just have to wait and see. Also, I think almost every team will have some new parts on their cars so it really is too early to make any judgements. To begin with our goal is simply to try and pick up points at every race.
Nico, you're all set for your first race as a Sahara Force India race driver. How does it feel?
There's a lot of excitement – that's the word I keep using to describe how I'm feeling. And I think it will continue until the Sunday morning in Melbourne when I wake up knowing I will be racing again in a few hours. That's when you feel the buzz and get the feeling of anticipation in your stomach.
Do you feel you are back up to speed after a year away from racing?
The testing has gone pretty well and it's been crucial for helping me get prepared. But I know testing is very different to racing because you don't have the same pressures of a race weekend. I think the true test will be qualifying when you have to deliver right away and you only get one chance.
Is the Australian Grand Prix one of your favourite events on the calendar?
My first race there in 2010 was cut short – only half a lap, but apart from that I have good memories from Melbourne and Australia in general. It's one of those venues with a special atmosphere and the whole city seems so relaxed and friendly. It's definitely up there with races like Monaco and Singapore in terms of the atmosphere and support from the fans
Will you get some free time to relax in Melbourne?
It's a race where we arrive very early to adapt to the time zone, so I will get a chance to look around the city, do some jogging, cycling and visit places like St Kilda beach. If there's enough time I will try and explore the coast a bit.
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