Pandemic Hobby Drives Rahul Dev Into Motorsport

By Nur Faradilla Mohamad

ISKANDAR PUTERI, March 6 (Bernama) — What began as a way to pass the time during the COVID-19 pandemic has now opened the door for a young man to make a name for himself in the national motorsport scene through his passion for Formula One (F1).

N. Rahul Dev, 22, who hails from Johor Bahru, said his interest in racing was sparked in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when movement restrictions significantly limited people’s daily routines.

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He said his interest was also influenced by his older brother, who enjoys watching F1 races and had often shared knowledge about race cars with him since they were young.

“Because of that, I tried e-sports simulator racing at a centre, and the exciting experience ignited my passion to pursue this field as a career,” he told Bernama when met at the Axle Academy here recently.

The talent of the INTI International College Subang student in Selangor was first noticed when he participated in the virtual simulator e-sports championship, the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) GT Cup (Campus Tour Race), in August 2023.

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The second of three siblings said training using a simulator provides an advantage for new drivers, helping them understand racing techniques before competing on an actual circuit.

“In addition, drivers can analyse lap times and identify sections of the circuit where they need to drive faster or slower to further improve their performance.

“About 80 to 90 per cent of the skills from simulator racing are transferable to real racing, while the remainder involves physical aspects and the driver’s sensitivity to track conditions,” he said.

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Rahul Dev, who idolises former Malaysian F1 driver and national e-racing squad coach Alex Yoong Hanifah, said the figure has also had a major influence on his talent and passion for racing.

He said Alex Yoong also encouraged him to join the TGR Rookie Programme 2025, which eventually led to him winning a championship on a real circuit at the Sepang International Circuit last January.

Rahul Dev, who has been taking a break from his studies in the American Degree Transfer Programme (Biotechnology) since July 2024, plans to refocus on his studies in the middle of this year.

— BERNAMA