1. YOUTH24
theSun ON TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 3, 2015
NextGen
Righton track>Thisgirldrifterspillswhatputsherinthehotseat
BY RACHEL LAW
Throwing a giggle or
two in between,
Leona Chin gushed
about the dashing
looks of the loves of her
life, how fast they can
go and how she could
identify each of them
by the baritone moans
they make. Now if
you know this “girl
drifter” well enough,
you’d know that she’s
actually talking about
cars – not so much a list of
dreamy men.
Since she learned to drift about
nine years ago, there was no turning
back for Chin, who remained on
the radar screen as a profes-
sional motorsports athlete.
When she’s not burning
rubber, the 28-year-old
keeps busy as a freelance
advanced driving instructor
and owner of Kuraz Motor-
sports and Events, which re-
spectively provides perform-
ance car parts and organises
professional motorsports
events.
The finance major
graduate from Subang
does circuit racing,
autocross and
gymkhana as
well but
she cited
rally racing
as the toughest
one of all.
“I went rallying in 2013 with no prior
training. I literally learnt as I drove
through the estates, it was a culture shock.
I really had no expectation to win or
anything but to return in one piece!” Chin
joked.
When she’s not challenging her stamina
on the tracks, Chin enjoys playing Gran
Turismo on her PlayStation 3 and walking
her dog, Bubu.
You’re often associated to cars and
motorsports. Tell us three things that
people don’t know about you yet.
I used to play percussions (drum and
xylophone) in my high school’s marching
band; I love to shop at Ace Hardware and I
want to buy everything in it! I am actually a
nerdy person and I love computers. In fact,
that was the catalyst to my drifting career. I
had checked in my 1989 Nissan Silvia
to have its faulty engine looked at,
at the workshop. The mechanic,
who’s now a popular drifter, told
me that I am able to drift with
my car and asked if I wanted to
learn. In exchange for lessons,
I was supposed to build him a
website. To cut the story
short, I mastered drifting in
two nights.
What’s your spirit
animal?
The tortoise in the
tortoise and the hare
story, because (being)
slow and steady
wins the race. Also
because I used to
adore the Acura
RSX (compact
sports coupe)
which sounds
like kura-kura
(tortoise in
Malay). I was
so obsessed
EDITOR: Peter Yap E-MAIL: peteryap@thesundaily.com
TRIVIA
Dream car: BMW F32
On her playlist: 2NE1, G-Dragon, Girls’
Generation and SISTAR
Favourite food: Korean BBQ
Fur kid: Shih tzu-terrier, Bubu
Off-track interests: Walking, jogging, spending
time with her family and exploring quadcopters
Favourite quote: “When in doubt, go flat out.”
(Colin McRae)
back then that I had a drawing of a tortoise
on the roof of my car!
Do you ever get bored of being labelled
“the only female player” in the scene?
Yes! I do get uncomfortable when I’m being
put on the pedestal simply because there are
other Malaysian ladies in motorsports.
What do you have to say about the
stereotype “women cannot drive”?
Just the other day, a (male) friend of my
friend who was getting married, was driving
us bridesmaids around. Something
happened along the way which made him
loudly remark about another motorist, “Must
be a lady driver!” To which I immediately
retorted, “That’s sexist!”
He must have no idea about who you are!
No, he didn’t. But yeah, I think it’s time for
the stereotype to die. I’m here to prove that
women can drive! (laughs)
What do Malaysian drivers do that irk
you most?
I hate it when they swerve into another lane
without switching on the indicator. And
when they double park!
She wants
to teach
Malaysians
to drive
safer.
ZULFADHLIZAKI/THESUN
Chin is into circuit racing, autocross
and gymkhana.