TWO years ago, he beat former Formula One driver David Coulthard in a race involving remote-controlled cars.

On Sept 20, Charles Theseira, 20, will get the chance to repeat the feat on an actual race track.

The full-time national serviceman was selected from over 60 entries as the winner of the "Ultimate UBS F1 experience".

It was the top prize offered in the UBS Go-Kart Challenge, a contest the Swiss bank, a global partner of F1, ran in conjunction with the Straits Times Appreciates Readers (Star) programme.

His 30-second video, illustrating the theme "I love racing", earned him a chance to race Coulthard in a go-kart, and a pair of Premier Walkabout tickets to this year's F1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

Theseira will also be treated to a VIP transfer with the Scot, where he fully intends to remind him of their last meeting at the 2011 Red Bull Speed Street event.

"I might just bring it up," he quipped. "Though I don't think I'll be anywhere near him on the karting track!"

Equally excited about the prospect of coming face to face with Coulthard is Chong Wai Leong, one of the five entrants picked to participate in the UBS Go-Kart Challenge at Kartright Speedway.

The 33-year-old airline pilot was part of the team that came in third in the rookie class of the recent KF1 Karting Challenge.

"Coulthard started out in karting as well so I'm hoping to learn a lot from him," Chong said.

He would, however, do well to look out for Angel Chan, the only female winner in the contest.

"I'm definitely going into this as the underdog," said the marketing manager. "But I'm looking forward to meeting the guys and, hopefully, beating them."

FABIUS CHEN