Glacial dreams in Österreich

It's December and winter is upon us again.. Yahoo!!! Well for me anyway. Every year these past few years, whenever the calendar inches that much closer to the winter season in the northern hemisphere, my feet starts to itch; the longing stares at my boots, bindings, goggles and helmet become intensely longer and undoubtedly, that little bit weirder. 

That inner voice that I just managed to shut up sometime in March last year comes back in full force, whispering to my conscience to head back out to the mountains, back to the embrace of my snowboard, riding that white powder that has managed to capture my imagination. 

Towards the end of 2014, I found myself staring longingly at the mountain of possible locations google had spewed out onto my screen in the wee hours of the morning. To suggest that I was drooling over my wireless keyboard would be an understatement. 

Where it's at: 47°11′17″N 12°41′15″E. 

One word kept jumping out at me and it was the Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Kaprun, in the Salzburg region of Austria. 

Not far out from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birthplace city of Salzburg, the Kitzsteinhorn forms part of the Hohe Tauern range in the eastern part of the Alps. Standing at just over 10,500 feet (=3,203m), it is by no means the highest mountain in the Alps. 

That honour belongs to Mont Blanc sandwiched between France and Italy standing at 15,781 feet (=4,810m). Even she's dwarfed by the Sagarmātha aka Chomolungma at 29,029 feet - i.e., Mount Everest!. 

But anyway, let me put Kitzsteinhorn into perspective: when you come from a city born in the rainforest that stands at about 72 feet above sea level, 10,500 feet is pretty darn high. 

The Kitzsteinhorn is also not the most famous in Austria, compared to its neighbour - the Kitzbühel alps in Tyrol. 

Kitzbühel is home of the epic Hahnenkammrennen (Hahnenkamm race), and subject of "Streif - One Hell of A Ride" movie (Thanks Stephan for the link). Chronicling the mythic downhill race through the years, it's the ultimate ski race movie.

Anyway, why Kitzsteinhorn? After a couple of years in the beautiful Graubünden canton in Switzerland and the experience of low snow cover last season, I just wanted to go somewhere different and go higher. 

But, these trips take a considerable amount of planning. The inhumane abuse my calculator takes on is testament to harsh budgeting and lots of bloody tears, especially when the exchange rate from your home currency will not just burn a hole in your wallet but more likely cause a violent and cataclysmic implosion to your savings account. 

Click!! With that typical *ping* of an incoming email with the note stating, "congratulations, your trip has been confirmed", the countdown begins and my excitement grows exponentially.


Eleven Thousand, Seven Hundred Kilometers later..

After setting off from the 80% humidity of the tropics; 11,600 kilometers later, I caught myself staring out of the window of the Austrian Airline aircraft at the vista below me. Admittedly with some trepidation as it would seem that in addition to the thermometer gauge reading in the plus column, the white stuff was also missing.. 

The final 80+ km journey from the airport in the van that I had booked was even more nerve-wracking especially as we pulled into the heart of Kaprun, the municipality in the Zell am See district - my home for a week.

Where the heck is the snow, man? With the clouds hanging quite low, I couldn't even see the mountains or the snow cover up there. Panic! 

Dumping my bags in the room, I went looking for the folks who would be my guide or my sifu on the mountain that week at Hartweger's. I have a term for these sifu's, people whose lives revolve around snow - which is the subject of my next post. And thank goodness for them, they reassured me that the white stuff was plentiful up on the glacier. 

Regardless of what level you are on skis or snowboards, it's worth hooking up with a local instructor/guide as they would have greater and better insights on the mountain, how the snow behaves, conditions, going freeriding, weather, best runs etcetera.. And Hartweger's is a great family-run ski / snowboard school located in the heart of Kaprun. It's totally worth checking them out, not just on the count of them being fairly economical in pricing but more importantly for being such wonderfully warm and friendly people. With them I also got the "wallet-friendly" price at Sport 2000 Glaser for my Ride Rapture snowboard, which I fell toe over heels in love with.  


Up and up.. 

This was on a relatively quiet day according to my buddy. Hmm..

The next morning I decided to get my lift tickets from the local office in Kaprun as opposed to the kiosk at the gondola station for fear of triggering a mild form of enochlophobia. I didn't fancy the idea of my system releasing epinephrine and producing elevated levels of annoyance whilst in a queue with what seemed like half a million people ahead of me. In fact, check with your hotel if they're a registered ticket vendor and you could arrange it through them. Easy peasy. 

After shuffling along with a bunch of two-plankers to get on to the first gondola (the Gletscherjet 1) up to the Langwied at just under 6,500 feet (=1,900m), my anxiety began to dissipate with the evident presence of the white stuff. After a quick pitstop admiring the view, I quickly made my way up to the second gondola (Gletscherjet II) to the Alpincenter, the appointed meeting point with my Sifu. 

The Langwied station, the first stop on the ride up to the AlpinCenter.

After a couple of years riding at a fairly comfortable altitude under 6,900 feet (=2,000m), you do feel the difference being at just about 8,200 feet (=2,500m), especially when you still have a few hundred feet to climb on the Gratbahn chairlift. 

I've always felt especially humbled and truly small in the grand scale of things when you're up that high on any mountain or stand in the middle of a desert or sit on a boat in the middle of the ocean. 

The vista from the Kitzsteinhorn is truly quite remarkable, one that literally took my breath away! It's quite different from peering out onto the world below you from the small window of an aircraft at 30,000+ feet. There's really no comparison experiencing and taking in the spectacular panorama before you when you're on a mountain. Trust me. Try it. 

there are no words to describe this incredible view.. 

I consider myself quite lucky to have had the opportunity to take in the view of the marvelous Hohe Tauern mountain range on a spectacularly clear day. Looking out onto peaks that are well over 10,000 feet that seem to be reaching out to the sky also makes you consider your presence on just one part of a great mountain range system that began forming over 700 million years ago. (that's well before dinosaurs roamed the earth).

Formed in the Palaeozoic era, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier (Der Gletscher or THE Glacier as declared on its website), remains open to skiers and snowboarders for almost three quarters of the year. But it's the glacier itself that I wish I had photographed, especially when I remember watching a documentary on how the glaciers of the Alps have been retreating for decades. 



Top of the world.. well.. sort of.. 

These days, you don't have to do what Johann Entacher did back in 1828 to climb up the Kitzsteinhorn. If your lungs are able to continue functioning after a day of labouring up and down the runs and getting mowed down by a novice two-planker, take that Gipfelbahn up to the Gipfelwelt 3000. 

it was difficult to tear myself away from this place.. 

At just over 9,800++ feet (=3,000 meters), it's the highest point for visitors in Salzburgland. On the ascent, I felt like my chest was being lightly squeezed by the giant palms of a 500 pound gorilla. So.. no trips up to the Himalayas for me yet then.. 

Just minutes before, I met a really cool English grandpa-grandson pair who wanted to go up as well. But, the old man couldn't because of his heart condition so he sent his grandson up with me. We chatted for a while until we got about halfway up. Silence quickly ensued partly because the gorilla was still sitting on my chest and partly because the view was extraordinary. Cat did get my tongue.

Despite the fact that it took me a while to get my breath back, I really was a bit speechless. I can imagine what Herr Entacher felt 187 years ago, kinda..

As I don't have a sponsor to take me up on a heli to photograph this view, the closest you can get to have a feel for this incredible place is via Google Earth. Then plug in the OST to The Dark Knight and imagine it if you will. 

It is stunning even if it is not the highest when you compare it to other destinations in the Alps, for sure. In fact, there's a restaurant in the Italian ski resort of Cervinia at 11,500 feet (=3,500m) boasting jaw-dropping views that makes your almost-michelin star plate of linguine look rather dull.

Clearly I am not alone in enjoying the view..

When my tongue eventually grew back, I met a local skier who asked if I was going to ride down from up there. I was honest with him and told him that I didn't have the balls to do that yet.. I will one day.. He had that quizzical look when I said that, then chuckled and decided to take the ride back down with me in the gondola. Really cool dude! 

Everyday for almost a week, after strapping myself onto my board, I would take that extra couple of minutes to stare into the distance, much to the chagrin of my sifu. Hey man, you'd do the same if we reversed roles and I were to take you up to the science station platform staring out onto the gorgeously green Maliau Basin "lost world' rainforest of my homeland. :)



Back on terra firma and in the village

I actually waited around that day just so I could have this all by myself. 

Reluctantly, when the skies started to darken every evening, it would take every ounce of will to tear myself off my seat in the little bar at the AlpinCenter and the hot chocolate I was nursing to take the gondola back down to earth. Partly also because the queue for the gondola was always so damned long.. 

I'm also getting really good at ignoring the stares I get from pretty much everyone as they try to figure out where I am from and what I'm doing there. Thank you Dr. Dre for your monster beats headphones as I can just immerse myself in some really loud music to drown out the screaming, pushing and shoving pre-pubescent kids in the gondola. 

Then prepare to get squashed like sardines in the bus with you hanging on to your snowboard and dear life with just one available little pinky with a 6' 5" two-planker resting his ski boots on your foot. Makes for a rather intimate ride back down to the valley... NOT! seriously? w.t..? 

I concentrate on this when the stares become 

too intense and ever so annoying

My advise, either come up really early in the morning (first bus up is at 7.45a.m), ride like mad until about 1pm, then take the gondola down. Or, if you are gonna stay, then take the gondola down after dusk, the crowds should have thinned out, a bit (disclaimers apply). But, the crowds do still gather en masse waiting for the bus.. Then my advise is chant: patience is a virtue.. patience is a virtue.. patience is a virtue...  

Actually I got lost on my first bus ride and ended up in some other town (Arietbahn, I think), which was hilarious because I followed a fellow solo snowboarder-traveller from Germany. 

He felt so bad for misguiding me and offered to take me to the correct stop when the bus did eventually halt some 20 minutes later. I ended up having a really interesting conversation with Toby. Sorry we didn't get to exchange contacts but if you're reading this, Toby from Hamburg (I think), it's all good dude, I found my way home! 

Waking up to this view of the mountain from the valley floor.. if you look carefully, you'll see Paletti Pizza Bar..  

The valley has its fare share of stuff to do and with Zell am see just around the corner, loads of places to eat, chill out, party and/or get plastered. I prefer taking a more chillaxed approach to getting to know a place more intimately, so I pretty much stayed put in Kaprun. 

I also had the privilege of getting to know and hanging out with some pretty awesome people who call Kaprun home as well as those who were visiting like I was. But, nothing beats getting to know a place from a local. 

Actually, my mind is torn as I'm almost reluctant to tell you the name of the place I frequented the most, highly recommended by the locals and a really damned cool place to chill out after a day on the slopes. It's my secret.. OK, fine.. It's called Paletti Pizza Bar, right off the main Kaprun thoroughfare. 

You really can't get any more international here. Owned by an Austrian, the man tossing the pizza into their wood fired oven is an Egyptian, the really cool lady who works there is Italian and the regulars I hung out with there hail from every corner of this amazing earth. 

When you get a Malaysian hanging out with folks from Germany, Slovenia, Holland, Spain, Slovakia, North America; not to mention patrons from Northeast Asia and Australia, it really is as diverse as a United Nation's general assembly. All I need is to find someone from the South Pacific. 



Never say Auf Wiedersehen

Suffice to say, every place I visit almost always leaves me yearning for more. Never mind if it's in the middle of the scorchingly hot desert during my one-month sojourn on the fringes of the Sahara desert; or the plateaus that used to be the domain of great mongol Khan in Kazakhstan.

be prepared to hustle and shuffle for the chairlift.. 

Kitzsteinhorn is no different to my time in Africa or Central Asia. This despite the fact that you do have to be prepared to contend for every inch of available space in the queue for the chairlift; and use the opportunity presented by the rather intimate ride on the bus back to the village to cure claustrophobia. 

I also almost always say I fall in love with certain aspects of any place I have the luck of visiting. And in the Kitzsteinhorn's case, it was not difficult to fall in love with her. She is stunningly majestic, even if she isn't the highest peak in Austria or the Alps. 

Even if the temperatures refused to drop or the warm air from the south refused to release its stranglehold to allow the cooler arctic air to bring some much needed snow, the runs are well groomed for a really nice ride. And at that altitude, you really can't complain. 

Like all things one loves, it's what one can't keep that keeps one yearning for more. That the snow did eventually come literally 24 hours after I left really made me feel like a jilted lover. How could you?? hahaha.. well, if anything, it's definitely teasing me to come back.. 


PS - this post is dedicated to the guys and gals still shreddin' it. Be well and stay safe y'all. 

And I had this song on when I left.. 



How apt.. "you're the air in my lungs, you're the fields where I run, you're the sky where I'm floating.. it's you.." lol! 

i really need to find myself a nice small power-packed camera next time.. this place is stunning.. masya'Allah

Formula to the Future

the GM Ultralite used in Demolition Man

Remember Demolition Man? That awfully weird fantastical and sad excuse of a movie with Sly Stallone, Sandra Bullock and Wesley Snipes? It was a flick set about in a fictitious and futuristic San Angeles, where the cops are "not trained to handle this kind of violence" when all of a sudden in walks Simon Phoenix (played by the truly wonderfullly villainous Snipes) from the past to wreak havoc on the future. 

Remember the funky black and white San Angeles police squad cars in the movie? The 1993 movie used GM's Ultralite concept car which back then (21 years ago mind you!) had the foresight (or is it hindsight?) to be battery electric powered. 

Anyhow, fast forward two decades and the idea of battery powered and/or hybrid cars have become a reality. Sure, it's not 2032, and Taco Bell hasn't ruled the franchise world. While it's true that electric-powered automotive technology has not quite evolved to that almost utopian hope of reducing our collective carbon footprint (or treadwear), the industry has made significant strides, at least in that general direction. Today (being 2014), there are over a dozen auto manufacturers offering nearly 20 different models of electric-powered vehicles with varying permutations. 

The BMW I8 used in the Formula E Championship

Of course, the combustible engine hydro-carbon powered cars remain the predominant consumer preference and choice on our Malaysian roads, but the case for electric-powered cars is a compelling one for some. However, with the infrastructure still in its infancy (some claim still at the conception stage even), the attractiveness of an electric option is somewhat diminished despite government tax breaks, therefore ensuring the continued supremacy of the gas-guzzling monsters on the pot-holed roads that dot the asphalt landscape of this nation. .. Well, for now, at least.. 

But, how often have you found your attention straying to that odd looking Nissan Leaf or Mitsubishi i-MiEV or even that darn Smart car on the road, more than that annoying headlight flashing ass-kissing Panamera in your rearview mirror? Me, I know I might gawk at the BMW I3 (or whimper at the BMW I8) or the Tesla S if I saw one... I remember crying inside when I was first introduced to the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive by former colleagues in Affalterbach... OK, maybe I am an anomaly. 


What? Electric racing?

While the idea of electric-powered vehicles is very slowly making its way from to the outer layers of the consumer psyche, e-vehicles as a choice for mobility is still something a vast majority of us would go, "huh?" at. Now imagine that concept in racing. "What?!"

Energy efficiency and sustainability are not often words or concepts one might automatically associate with automobile racing. Especially when one has spent ones youth salivating at the 20 or so brave souls engaged in a vehicular gladiatorial contest of who's fastest in their carbon-fibre armoured fuel-burning machines, hurtling down the racetracks at top speeds in excess of 300km/h almost every other fortnight. 

But, in recent years, the idea of energy efficiency has already begun creeping into racing in various forms and at various stages. For instance, clever engineering to recover wasted energy under braking and transforming that energy into additional electrical power for formula one cars. I won't even attempt to explain that as physics was my achilles heel in school. 

Regulation changes centred around energy efficiency had begun to appear across other championships as well, including even the infamous LeMans 24Hours, when hybrid vehicles with KERS or TERS (Kinetic/Thermal Energy Recovery Systems) began appearing in 2009. 

Suffice to say, the mood and attitudes in the upper echelons of racing is certainly shifting, perhaps in response to changing demands. There's no denying that technological innovation remains the mainstay in the motoring and auto racing industry, but the direction in which that innovation has taken is what is fascinating. This in spite of the very public debates on savings or innovation.

Essentially though, change was in the offing, innovation wise, anyway. Either side of the force, it was probably a matter of time before the players in the industry would embrace the idea of a flagship championship built on technologically advanced innovation around electric-power as opposed to fossil-fuel powered combustion engine race cars. 


Drive the future

Drum roll please.... here it is.. Introducing the FIA Formula E Championship. 

I first heard of it late in 2013 (OK, so I don't put my ears to the ground as often as I would like, sorry). Then I bumped into an ex-Formula 1 test driver who was about embark on his first ever Formula E (FE) test. I was curious. As I spoke to him he went on to explain how excited he was and what it was all about. 

The inaugural FIA Formula E Championship commenced in September with the Beijing ePrix. 

Essentially, he said and I'm paraphrasing, "it's taking single seater racing to a whole new and different level. Rather than implementing changes here and there around energy and sustainability, this championship itself is built entirely from that foundation of electric power from the outset. That's what sets this apart."

Naturally, that piqued my interest. As I attempted to devour as much information as I could gather, my curiousity began to grow. I came to learn that the championship is built on the premise of being a framework for research and development around electric mobility and ultimately the future of the auto industry; an effort that makes that link between motor racing and motoring industry and the future more defined. 

Sauntering (actually, I was running about like a headless chicken, but anyway) about the paddock at the recently concluded Putrajaya ePrix, I simply could not resist the urge to corner Michael Andretti.. Yes, that Andretti, CEO of Andretti Autosport and get his point of view. "This [Formula E] could very well be the future of auto racing, and that is what got us really excited."

I wondered if it was a huge leap from what they had done in the past, to which Andretti answered, "I wouldn't say it's a huge change, as there is still the basics of racing, but you have to change your thinking on how you approach it, the way you approach strategy and how you manage your energy, for instance. Formula E is a new challenge and one that we really like."

Audi Sport ABT Formula E's Lucas di Grassi

The one thing he mentioned that was to be a recurring theme as I spoke to the drivers was changing attitudes, in different contexts, of course. 

Speaking to both Bruno Senna (Mahindra Formula E) and Lucas Di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Formula E) whilst waiting for a certain high-ranked dignitary at a gala-ladi-da event, both echoed similar sentiments. "You really have to change your attitude toward this type of racing because it is different from any other kind of racing in other categories. You have to change how you approach racing in these cars." 

Theirs was a sentiment that even Jaime Alguersuari (Virgin Formula E) and Nico Prost (e-DAMS Formula E) both shared with me. One said, "you have to change your driving style and change the way you think about it and there is a higher degree of responsibility on the part of the driver, particularly in managing how you race against the energy available to you."

Mahindra's Karun Chandhok put it to me this way, "It is very different [driving this car], as we have no engines and we run on battery power. There are a lot of things that are very different compared to a normal racing car, for instance, in terms of weight and weight distribution and the tyres as we don't use slicks. Then there is the fact that we only race on street circuits, which I really like a lot!" 


Breaking Perceptions

Alejandro Agag, CEO of the FIA Formula E

The words that kept recurring throughout my electric week was "different" and "change". Looking at it from the bigger picture, during the schedule runs with Alejandro Agag, CEO of the FIA Formula E Championship, a very senior broadcast journalist summed it up for me, "it's a championship of the future, today." Interesting way of putting it. 

Alejandro puts it simply, "this is not just another series, it is a series all on its own." He said in an interview, "we are looking to the future, looking to find ways to change the world, particularly in the area of mobility." 

This especially in the area of electric mobility and in breaking the perception that electric cars are for boring and slow geeks, to which Alejandro adds, "by showing skeptics these electric cars racing, we can change the perception around electric mobility." 

Best part is that the engineering minds behind the scenes working with this huge moving research and development laboratory, are hard at work making the batteries last longer and these cars faster. That trajectory is onwards and upwards, for sure, especially as I couldn't help but notice the presence of and growing curiosity of some of the biggest names in the auto industry. Perhaps.... hmm..

One thing that I found particularly interesting is the fact that the series only races on street circuits (which the drivers love), a point that Alejandro explains is especially crucial. Because Formula E is ultimately about contributing toward research and development; and the future of electric mobility, the fact that the races happen on street circuits of major capital cities around the world is a strategic one because as Alejandro points out, "Formula E has a unique opportunity to help combat carbon emissions. And the fight against carbon emissions happens first in the cities. The world is going towards a concentration of the population in the big cities. 80% of the pollution is going to come from the cities by 2020. So to fight carbon emissions we need to find solutions in the cities and the big part of it is mobility, how we move around. If we can move around the cities in a clean way, we are already one step closer to our goal."

Reaching Out

I've done my fair share of photoshoots, this has to be the most chilled out..

Another element that the FIA Formula E Championship aims to be is being different and open, one that Karun Chandhok, who is also the Formula E driver representative was happy to illustrate, "after the first race in Beijing, the promoters sent us drivers an email asking for our opinion, which is very interesting and never or rarely happens in other championships. This is a good start in my opinion, particularly in the way we are open to communicate with each other."

What's interesting is that channel of communication extends beyond the team garages, race control and pitlane into cyberspace, especially to young netizens out there prowling the world wide web. The primary characteristic of Formula E is the element of youth in the championship's demographic target group. 

The students at the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia campus gets an 

exclusive session with the drivers and Spark, the men who built the 

Formula E cars.

Alejandro explains, "Formula E is designed for the young fans. One example is the Fanboost, which is the opportunity for fans to vote on social media and online to push for their favourite drivers. For the first time ever, fans can have an impact on the result of a sporting event." [Note: the top three driver with the fanboost gets 50 extra horsepower in 5 seconds twice during a race.]

Why the youth? "The new generation, or the millennials, have a much shorter attention span and have a very different way of interacting with the world, preferring entertainment or sporting events that they are able to interact with through their mobile devices," notes Alejandro. 

Ultimately there is also another point to this, by attracting the younger audience who are also very conscious of the world they live in, Alejandro explains, "by the time these kids are 18 years old and they decide to buy a car, that car will most probably be an electric one. So in that way, Formula E is a championship targeted to younger fans."

In reverberating the same sentiments, Michael Andretti notes, "the Millennials are really important because auto racing in general has a real challenge because our demographics are getting older and older." 

If Formula E can attract a younger audience, they're more likely to remain interested in it, particularly if they can interact with it in a real way. Bruno Senna's use of his fanboost at the Putrajaya ePrix would have definitely proven this to his fans that it works and it did have an impact on his race. 

Bruno Senna used his 

fanboost at the Putrajaya ePrix

Granted, the inaugural series is only two races old, and is very far from over. But, judging from all the conversations I had up and down the pitlane, in the paddock, in the studios, in the media centre and with championship partners, there is an energy around and about the Formula E that is infectious, one that one could almost call electric. I know that's cheesy, I'm sorry but that is the vibe I get. 

I'm excited about the series and can't wait to see what's in store for the FIA Formula E Championship. I can only see it get better and better as the kinks get ironed out, so, yeah, bring it on! 




And in case you missed the race, here's highlights of that electric weekend. 

Jazzed up for Jaz

Jazeman Jaafar. That intense look of his is what first caught my
attention all those years ago.

It's hard to believe that he's still only 21. After all, time being what it is, it always seems like only yesterday that I first caught a glimpse of that almost 14-year old who was making waves in the Formula BMW Asia series in 2007. I recall meeting this intense, disciplined and single-minded teenager back then and being somewhat in between awe and amazement. I even recall being at the listening end of a very one-sided conversation with a certain high-ranked individual at BMW about how the talent of this young lad ought to be nurtured. "He has the right aptitude, the talent, the perseverance and most importantly, the discipline for it," this man said.

At 14, discipline was at best an untamed concept to me, something one experiences when one has pushed the extremes of breaking the rules too far and getting punished for it. Self discipline? What's that??! Looking back, perhaps I did have some measure of that, especially as I was only ever really good at getting myself into copious amounts of trouble. 

Anyway, I got to know a little bit more about Jazeman Jaafar (or Jaz, as I affectionately call him) and had the pleasure of watching him grow through the ranks of single-seater open-wheel racing. This was during the same time that I had the pleasure of working with another very young formel eins hopeful - who eventually went on to become the youngest driver to drive at a Grand Prix race and become a four-time world champion. This particular individual also went through the same junior formula Jaz had began his career in. 

Like Seb, there were others that also went through the same category like Daniel Ricciardo (who I met briefly when he was with Eurasia racing competing in the 2006 Formula BMW Asia series) and Alexander Rossi (now a GP2 driver and reserve F1 driver). I came to really appreciate their work ethic, which is so far off the public perception and stigma that comes from being a race car driver. 

Jazeman celebrates a podium finish in this year's Formula Renault
3.5 World Series

As for Jaz, he hasn't been exempt from the pressures that these other drivers have had to go through as well. From what little we can ascertain from the mainstream media, it's been a "tough" year for the youngster. He eventually finished the season in 10th overall out of 23 drivers (in 2013, he finished 17th). 

At face value (and I mean at face value, disclaimers and all), like almost everything reported in sports, you can't help but read between the lines that not getting a win or a medal is somewhat tantamount to some kind of failure. I really beg to differ, and perhaps this is a subject best relegated to a more explosive post.. haha..!! Anyway, I think despite him not walking away with the Formula Renault 3.5 World Series title this year, Jazeman still made tremendous strides this season. 

In trying to get a back story to the work that Jaz has been doing this year, I got the opportunity to catch up with the young lad (that's hard to catch up with an extraordinarily fit individual, hahaha!!) to look back at what has been - to me, and for all intents and purposes - a good season for Jazeman..

Q: Jazeman, it's been an absorbing and interesting 2014 season for you. Let's start with talking about your time in the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 World Series.

JJ: "Well, coming to the second year, it has been quite an interesting journey. I came home with a couple of podiums. But it's been a very competitive year, full of highs and lows. But I am happy that I was able to fight back up front for most of the year."


A Portuguese date with Formel Eins

Q: But, 2014 hasn't just been about the World Series for you either! For instance you tested the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One car in Portimao (Portugal) a few months back. That's awesome! How was it for you?

Jazeman testing the 2012 Mercedes AMG F1-W03 in Portimao

JJ: "It was fantastic because it was also more than just a test. It was an unlimited testing with a two year old car that Michael [Schumacher] used to drive [that would be the Mercedes AMG F1-W03]. It was a fantastic opportunity to be given because I was given a full test team to work with and a full package to learn from. So it was definitely a great step for my career."



Q: Not only that, it was also the fourth time you tested a formula one car with the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One team as well. How was this experience different from the other times you've driven an F1 car at events, filming, etcetera? 

JJ: "It was different this time. And definitely a step forward, because every time you drive the car you learn something new. You know Formula One is something you can't just jump in a master everything at once. Each time I get to drive the car, I improve myself, my understanding of the car characteristics. Although it was a 2-year old car, it is still a Formula One car, for me it is an incredible car to be learning in, especially."



Q: Did that experience help improve your racing season in the World Series?

JJ: "Definitely. I mean from getting grips with the technical knowledge, especially when you get the chance to work with a top team like Mercedes AMG PETRONAS, there's nothing more you can ask for."



Q: You know this year, everyone talked about how different the cars are. How different do you think it is driving this 2 year old car compared to the 2014 cars, from a drivers point of view?

JJ: "I think based on the simulators I have been driving, the 2014 cars actually have a lot less downforce and the tyres are harder. I wouldn't say it is a lot easier, but there are a lot of other factors to master with the 2014 cars. I haven't had the opportunity to drive the actual 2014 car, but I think it would be an interesting challenge to jump into one of those."


The Club of Clubs, for race car drivers

Jazeman with his ISR team in this season's World Series by Renault

Q: As a whole, you've had a busy 2014. But I think one accomplishment deserves a mention, and that is you being inducted into the BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club), an elite club that's open to racing car drivers who have attained international success over a number of seasons. Wow! How does it feel to be amongst some of the world's best? 

JJ: "It feels fantastic. It was definitely one of my happiest moments this year. BRDC is a very exclusive clubs with about 300-400 race car drivers, and being only the 3rd Malaysian in it as well as the youngest Malaysian, it is amazing to be a part of that. Of course, I have to thank Alex Yoong and Fairuz Fauzy for nominating me to be a part of BRDC. Being in the BRDC gives me the opportunity to meet and network with new people. The recognition I get as a Malaysian driver to be a part of BRDC is truly incredible."


24 Hour Madness

Jazeman in action with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 at the 24-Hours of Spa race. 

Q: And, as if you didn't already have a very busy 2014, you also did the 24 hours of Spa. 

JJ: "It never stops, right?!! But I really enjoyed it! The opportunity came about from Mercedes AMG, when I did the test in spa, right after my race earlier this year. The test went really well. At the same time, I also had a summer break and they asked me if I wanted to do the race. I said yeah, I was more than happy to do it as I have never done a 24-hour race and the [Mercedes-Benz] SLS [AMG GT3] is a fantastic car to drive. So I really couldn't say no."

"As for the race itself. I only had about 2 hours of sleep in 30 hours. And I only ate loads of protein bars and granola bars and I couldn't have a proper meal, or else I would've fallen asleep! 

"It was a fantastic experience and I have to thank PETRONAS and Mercedes AMG for giving me the opportunity."


Q: As you said, it was your first 24hour race, and you finished 5th! I mean, 24 hour races if you compare it to the likes of Le Mans, is a very very difficult kind of race. It's taxing on the driver, taxing technically. So, how do you as a driver overcome all these challenges?

JJ: "First thing, I have to say I had great experienced teammates [Maximilian Buhk, Maximilian Götz] so they knew what to expect as they had won the year before. That helped me a lot, especially from the technical point of view. 

"The hardest thing I found was mentally. Because I did a couple of double stints and the ones at night were especially challenging. So, it was just about keeping the consistency going. But I had a great team [HTP Motorsport] behind me, they kept my focus going and everyone was in such a great mood which really helps the drivers."

Night sessions in endurance racing are really crazy hard.. and that's
just for me, writing the hourly reports. Try driving the car!! 

Q: Well, some F1 drivers have ventured to do the 24hours of LeMans in the past. Is that something that's on your radar in the future? 

JJ: "If the opportunity comes up again next year, why not!! But my main goal remains Formula One, and I wouldn't want to be distracted at this point in my career."


Q: I know it's early days still, but what's in store for Jazeman Jaafar in 2015?

JJ: "Although it's already at the end of the season, as of now, we are planning to do the off-season testing in the World Series, as well as the GP2 test, so we'll definitely have to see where that takes us, and we'll see where the opportunity takes us. Ultimately it does all boils down to my sponsors really."

At the time of this post, Jazeman had just concluded a World Series by Renault testing with his DAMS team at the Motorland Aragon circuit. The Malaysian closed out the session with the third fastest time. He was quoted as saying that he does not know where he would be in 2015. 

Sure, there are so many different factors at play being a race car driver. In fact, it's a lot similar to what any other professional athletes go through. Performance and consistency in that performance being amongst them; hard work, dedication, discipline, perseverance and tenacity being other factors; as is luck, probably. Then there's timing, exposure and results, to some extent. It isn't fair nor would it be accurate to simply say that Jaz had a bad year. By who's reckoning? 

If it came down to the crunch, I would probably have to say that he had a positive and strong formative season. And isn't that what being an athlete is all about? Having a season filled with learning opportunities that had and may continue to have a profound influence on an athletes development.

I took this of Jazeman back in 2008. Gosh!! Good Luck Jaz. 

We don't yet know where Jazeman will end up in 2015, but if he keeps on the path he's on, the world remains his oyster. As Winston Churchill once said, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." 

Let's all have a little faith in him and the other Malaysian athletes who work so damned hard at their craft. Celebrate and be proud of their achievements thus far, and know that they've all overcome incredible obstacles just to get to where they are. 

And as famed former Detroit Red Wings right-wing and one of the best ice hockey players in the world, Gordie Howe once said, “You find that you have peace of mind and can enjoy yourself, get more sleep, and rest when you know that it was a one hundred percent effort that you gave – win or lose.” I for one know and am sure that Jaz and all our other athletes give it 100%, everytime.

Go get 'em tiger!




@ Credit to Jazeman's PR team for the bulk of the pictures used in this post.