Porsche Carrera Cup racer Yuey Tan and wife, Claire Jedrek, Singapore’s only female racer, tell Men’s Folio why they love life in the fast lane.

What drew you to this adrenaline-pumping, tire-burning sport?
Yuey Tan: I’ve always had a huge love for cars since I could walk and talk. However, it was in Adelaide, from 1985 to 1995, where I saw many world champions crowned, including my childhood idols Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. That was the golden era of Formula 1. Shortly after, I started to race in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2008. Also, when there was talk of the Marina Bay Singapore Grand Prix in 2006, it got me excited to be a part of the big leagues. To race that circuit was merely a dream and it made me more determined than ever to try and get into Asia’s Premier Motorsport series.
Claire Jedrek: I think many sports that push the edge are personality based and I am always up for a good challenge. I started racing much later than most and it is not always easy But racing appeals to me, and the opportunity to do so came in 2013.

What’s the best part about racing?
CJ: The excitement and possibly the uncertainty. The amount of work you put in doesn’t always yield the perfect results. There’re so many things – weather, the setting of the car, your mental state – that can either go right or wrong. All these can affect how well I do that day. But having the knowledge, honing it, and using it is exciting to me.

Any life lesson learnt on the racetrack?
YT: Never give up! A very famous quote from one of Formula 1’s commentators Murray Walker is “Anything can happen in motor racing. And it usually does.” The combination of a complex machine and an even more complex human being can make many variables go wrong, so making sure that nothing goes wrong isn’t easy! Random stuff happens all of the time, so never give up because you never know what will happen next

Is life equally exciting off the racetrack?
YT: Absolutely! There are so many fantastic thing about life, and if you don’t stop to enjoy them, they will be gone before you know it. We only live once, so it’s important that we enjoy life inside and outside of the car. I like to play all sorts of sports and take part in all sorts of competition. I am extremely lucky to have the opportunity to race professionally.
CJ: Life is what you want it to be. For me, it’s exciting and I’m enjoying every bit. I’ve learnt to treasure the quiet moments alone with Yuey, friends, and family. Things are fast paced, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t think we have time to mull around and we make sure that we keep ourselves busy.

What’s in the pipeline?
CJ & YT: Soon, we will be hosting and driving together in Cambodia for a true Porsche experience with the Porsche Adventure Drive. It will be where drivers get to push the limits of Porsche Cayenne and Macan in extreme off-road conditions. It’s such a treat, and we are very excited to be a part of it.

Story Credits
Text by Lance Lim
Photography by Ivanho Harlim & Shysilia Novita
Styling by Titien Wang

This article was originally published in Men’s Folio