Female karters Kareen Kaur and Jane Lee challenge status quo in motor racing

SINGAPORE – Racing has at times been a lonely endeavour for Singaporean karter Kareen Kaur.

During her early cadet and junior years, she was often the only girl in the drivers’ briefing room and felt the need to prove herself each time she raced.

In order to be competitive against her male peers, who are sometimes more than twice her age, the 14-year-old trains nearly every day to build strength and stamina. Her routine includes a daily 3km run, high-intensity gym sessions and racing practice at least twice a week.

Strength is crucial, especially for Kareen, who is 48kg and races with a 25kg weight attached to her kart to meet the minimum weight requirement. The additional weight makes the kart slower and more difficult to control while going at high speeds of up to 120kmh.

Despite these challenges, the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Secondary student remains undeterred. She said: “The pressure is immense, but I refuse to let it hold me back. Honestly, once the helmet is on, I feel we are all just competitors, not a male or a female.”

She has had some creditable results, placing fourth overall in the junior category – she was the top female driver – of the ROK Cup Singapore 2024 Championship, and she was second in the first round of the ROK Cup Malaysia last June.

Racing in the Champions of the Future Academy Series, which has a partnership with the F1 Academy, and meeting like-minded female drivers has made Kareen feel less alone.

Launched in 2023, the F1 Academy is a female-only, junior-level single-seater racing championship aimed at helping young drivers progress through the pyramid, including Formula 3, F2 and then F1.

“That experience transformed me – not just as a driver, but as a competitor,” said Kareen, who has raced in Champions of the Future Academy events in Europe and the United Arab Emirates.

“I am less intimidated fighting the boys on the track. In any sport, it is important that you are mentally strong to accept a challenge.”

Also pursuing her passion for karting is Jane Lee, who started racing competitively in 2023.

Competition can get heated and the 16-year-old has received rude hand gestures after overtaking other karters, but that does not bother her.

Her first karting experience in 2021 was one to forget – she crashed at the pit lane entry and then stopped for a year – but she now wants to prove to herself that she can be a top contender.

She said: “To me, racing was just a way to play but, after I lost my first kart from a crash (in 2023), I realised I didn’t want to race for fun.”

Her first few races were tough, with Jane finishing among the stragglers. She also recalled how a mechanic disregarded her feedback, saying changing things would not make her faster.

That only pushed her to improve, inspiring a move to Thailand in 2023 for several months.

While she was grateful for the support from her principal and teachers at Westwood Secondary School, she decided to relocate for racing opportunities.

The teenager, who is homeschooled, was crowned the junior rookie champion at the 2023 ROK Cup Thailand, before becoming the senior champion in 2024 and senior champion at the 2024 Kart Championship of Thailand.

She said: “That’s what keeps me going and doing things like being at the gym – it’s all for racing. I just want to prove myself right.”

For Kareen, racing is also a way to champion meaningful causes. In February, she became an ambassador athlete for the Singapore Cancer Society and she wants to help other female drivers get into karting.

She said: “If you love racing, go for it. There will be days, months, or even a year when you don’t reach the podium, but never give up. Every race lost and won is a lesson, every challenge is part of the journey.”