Shivin Sirinarinthon shares his consuming passion for the competitive world of racing.

By Christy Lau

With the United States portion of the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship taking place this month, the whole world has been struck with racing fever. But only a few take this championship more seriously than 18-year-old Shivin Sirinarinthon, a talented race car driver who has already made his mark on Thailand’s local scene.

This speedster has been racing since his early teens, earning his racing license at the tender age of 14. He has come a long way in just four years, joining the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship (F4 SEA) last year, where he rubbed shoulders with world-renowned F1 drivers on the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. His latest success has been his win at the Super Turbo Thailand in July, which was definitely a mean feat, as he was the youngest to compete. Buckle up as we find out what keeps this young racer’s engines running…

What inspired you to get into the world of race car driving?

From a young age, I’ve always enjoyed the sound of a car engine revving up, but it was my father who actually sparked my passion for racing. I’ve seen him driving many amazing supercars over the years, which led me to want to pursue this professionally.

How does one train to become a race car driver?

Every race car driver has to start with go-karts. Since I was about six or seven years old, I was at EasyKart track at RCA Plaza every weekend to practice my skills. You start with the smallest engine at 100cc and then work your way up to 160cc. Because of my height, I was advancing much faster than others, and was handling a 270cc engine by age 11, while most racers can only progress to this kart at 15 years old.

How did you become a part of the 2017 F4 SEA Championship?

After I got more familiar with racing by practicing at various tracks in Thailand, I competed in Road Tax Max, which was my first professional open-wheel competition.

There I met the organiser of F4 SEA, Peter Thompson. I managed to pass the qualifying test and went on to compete in two major legs of the F4 SEA Championship at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia and the Clark International Speedway in Philippines in September and October last year. Although I came 16th place, it was still an amazing experience to compete alongside other young drivers from all over the world.

What are some of your proudest achievements?

Definitely winning Champ of the Year for the Japan 20+ Single Cam at Super Turbo Thailand. I didn’t expect to win at all because some of the other drivers had been racing for more than 10 years. I was also the youngest in my category. But after doing well in the first race at Bira Circuit in Pattaya, I could actually see that I was ahead of the others, and that gave me the confidence to believe I stood a chance. In total, there were six races and I came first in three of them which meant I had the most points in the season.

What do you enjoy most about racing?

The most thrilling part is getting in close contact with other racers, especially around sharp corners. There is a certain rush when you closely miss bumping into another race car. Another exciting aspect is the challenge of correcting your car when another car hits your bumper and sends you spinning. You only have a few seconds to bring the car back to its right position before it hits the wall.

What are some of the challenges of becoming a race car driver in Thailand?

Currently, Thailand’s motorsport scene is lacking opportunities for drivers to advance with only a few major series happening each year.

If you want to advance to the international level, it’s quite difficult. You could do what I did and connect with the F4 SEA team and go from there. The only way to progress is to win races, because the more popular you get, the more sponsors you earn and the more opportunities you have to compete.

You just started a course at Assumption University. How do you find time to study and practice?

I won’t lie, I do take time off from classes to focus on my driving. It is a matter of speaking to the lecturers to discuss how to manage both priorities.

What is your most memorable moment behind the wheel?

I would say the crash I had at Pattaya’s Bira Circuit a couple years back. It was a very sharp S-shape curve, where you had to quickly turn left and then steer right. The suspension of my car wasn’t up-to-date, so it couldn’t jump very well. I overtook three cars and then came up to the curve a bit too quickly, so when I hit the brake, the car jumped and all four wheels shot up in the air, before the front left side went down first and hit the barrier. I wasn’t seriously injured but I did end up taking a break from racing for a while.

How do you mentally prepare yourself before a race? Any special routines?

Honestly, I don’t have a routine. I just get in the car, start up the engine and follow my instincts.

Who is your idol?

The late FIA Formula 1 World Championship winner, Ayrton Senna. He was a born driver, and one of the few who didn’t look at the race data analysis, which compares how well each racer did on each round. He just relied on his instincts and has won the FIA Formula 1 World Championship three times.

What do you think is the key to being a successful racer?

Becoming one with the car. In my opinion, a lot of drivers make the mistake of continually modifying their car when they get low lap times by spending a lot of money on fancy enhancements. However, although it’s important to adjust the car, it’s even more imperative to adjust the driver to match the car. It takes a longer time but it can ultimately make or break you.

What are some of your future goals?

Obviously, I would like to compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship eventually. I also want to have my own car business specifically for fine-tuning race cars and adding special modifications. Further down the line, I hope to have my own race team.