Alex Yoong

Despite making history as the first Malaysian to break into Formula One,
Alex Yoong never looked like making his stay long-term, eventually turning
his hand to other disciplines within the sport.

Unlike most of those who have cracked the big time on a more permanent
basis, Yoong didn't begin racing until he was almost out of his teens,
mostly because of Asia's under-developed motorsport structure. However, he
wasted little time showing that he had the sort of talent to lift him above
others in the region, running competitively on his way to eight wins and
overall runners-up spot in the relatively new Formula Asia series.

Well and truly bitten by the motorsport bug, and aided by finance from his
family, Yoong took the decision to pursue his chosen career in Britain, as
hat was where many F1 world champions had plied their trade before reaching
the top of the ladder. Eschewing FFord on the basis that he had already
learned slicks-and-wings in FAsia, Yoong opted for two years of Formula
Renault, running with the leaders on occasion but, more often than not,
featuring in the midfield battles.

Experience of the British circuits gained, he decided that it was time to
move up to Formula Three and, in 1998, linked up with ex-pat Australian Alan
Docking. Numerous top six finishes went some way to convincing sceptics that
Yoong may have something offer but, up against the likes of Luciano Burti,
Enrique Bernoldi and future champion Marc Hynes, pickings were slim. He
continued into 1999, but had to cut short his season after four races when
the funds dried up.

By this time, the Malaysian government had decided that Yoong could act as
an ambassador for the country and decide that it would help to back his
racing. Looking to move on from F3, Yoong tried his hand at various F3000
series, starting in the Italian 'national' championship, before graduating
to the full FIA championship. His involvement, however, was curtailed by a
major accident at Spa, and it wasn't until Macau and a return to F3, that
Yoong resurfaced.

A third F3000 category - Formula Nippon - caught his gaze for 2001 and,
despite linking up with the established Team Le Mans operation, yielded
little in the way of success. Despite that, however, a growing following
among businesses in Malaysia began to make Yoong attractive to the
struggling F1 outfits and, with three races remaining in the season, he was
drafted into the second Minardi seat alongside Fernando Alonso.

Despite not shining - as much because Minardi was an acknowledged backmarker
as because of his own inexperience - Yoong was retained in the Italian team
for 2002. A full season alongside Mark Webber was in prospect, but the
Malaysian's performances were so hit-and-miss - he failed to reach the
qualifying standard on three occasions - that he was 'rested' for two races,
allowing Anthony Davidson to make his F1 debut.

Back for the remaining three events, Yoong's pace had picked up a little,
but he registered two DNFs alongside a 13th place finish and was dropped by
the team at the end of the year.

That effectively spelt the end of his F1 involvement, although his name
cropped up a couple of times as a possible replacement or test driver at
back-of-the-grid teams before being overtaken by other young hopefuls.

His attention then switched to the USA and, more specifically, Champ Cars.
Despite apparent interest from champion outfit Forsythe, Yoong eventually
wound up at Dale Coyne Racing, another cash-strapped home for young
hopefuls. Although he performed competently in the first few races of the
year, finances again forced him to give up the seat and, despite promises of
a return, Yoong was not seen back in the series.

The following year brought another change of scene and, having got his first
taste of Australian tin-top racing in the Konica development series at
Bathurst, he opted for a full campaign in 2004. That eventually led to him
being drafted into the WPS team's endurance squad for Bathurst and Sandown,
but Yoong was again overlooked when the team signed the experienced David
Besnard and Craig Baird for 2005.

The Malaysian refused to give up on his motorsport, however, and has become
involved in the A1 Grand Prix series put together by Sheikh Maktoum. As
franchise holder of the Malaysian team, Yoong made a return to the cockpit,
but has intimated that he would settle for running the operation as well as
grooming young talents in lower formulae in order to develop them for the
future.