Alex Yoong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alex Yoong
熊龙
Yoong in 2006
Born	Alexander Charles Yoong Loong (1976-07-20) 20 July 1976 (age 49) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Spouse(s)	Arriana Teoh ​ (m. 2002)​
Children	1
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Malaysian
Active years	2001–2002
Teams	Minardi
Entries	18 (14 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	2001 Italian Grand Prix
Last entry	2002 Japanese Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years	2006–2007
Teams	RfH, Charouz
Best finish	8th (2006)
Class wins	0
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	熊龍
Simplified Chinese	熊龙
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xióng Lóng Hakka Romanization Yung2 Liung2 Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Hung4 Lung4 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Hîm Liông Tâi-lô Hîm Liông

Alexander Charles Yoong Loong (born July 20, 1976) is a famous Malaysian racing driver. He is best known for being the first and only driver from Malaysia to ever compete in Formula One. After his time in Formula One, he continued to race in many other types of motorsports and also became a sports broadcaster.

Yoong was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His father is Malaysian Chinese and his mother is English. He started his racing journey in saloon cars before moving to single-seater cars. He quickly showed his talent by winning the Malaysian Championship in 1995. After racing in different series like Formula 3000 and Formula Nippon, he achieved his dream of reaching Formula One.

He joined the Minardi team in 2001. Although his Formula One career was short, he made history for his country. After leaving F1, Yoong raced in the American CART World Series, the A1 Grand Prix where he won three races for Team Malaysia, and the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. He later worked with the Lotus Racing team to help develop new drivers and works as a TV commentator for motorsports.

Early Life and Family

Alex Yoong was born on July 20, 1976, in Kuala Lumpur. Racing was in his blood, as both of his parents were race car drivers. His father, Hanifah Yoong, raced sedans, and his mother, Johanna Bean, competed in rallies. By the time he was four years old, Yoong was already a huge fan of Formula One, looking up to drivers like Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna.

He got his first taste of speed on a small motocross bike he received for his eighth birthday. This was where he first showed his natural talent for racing.

Start of a Racing Career

Alex Yoong racing in Formula Asia 2000 in Zhuhai.

Yoong's official racing career began in 1992 when he was just 16, driving saloon cars. He quickly made a name for himself, winning two out of five races in a one-make Proton series. He then moved to more powerful cars, driving a BMW in the style of the German DTM series.

In 1994, he moved up to open-wheel racing in the Formula Asia championship. After getting some podium finishes, he won his first race at the end of the season in Zhuhai, China. The next year, he won the Malaysian national championship. During this time, he even helped the famous actor Jackie Chan with his racing movie, Thunderbolt.

Moving to Europe

Yoong's success caught the attention of teams in Europe. He moved to England to race in Formula Renault in 1996. Although he had some good top-six finishes, he found it difficult to win. He then decided to move to the more competitive Formula Three series to prove his skills.

In 1999, Yoong had a breakout year in British Formula Three. After his sponsors pulled out, his family had to pay for his racing. He missed the first few races but came back strong. He finished on the podium with a second-place finish at Brands Hatch, racing against future F1 stars like Jenson Button and Narain Karthikeyan.

Formula 3000 and a Big Crash

Later in 1999, Yoong joined the Formula 3000 championship, a series just below Formula One. He had a great race at Donington Park in England, where he finished second in very wet and tricky conditions.

However, his season took a dangerous turn at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. He had a massive crash at the famous Eau Rouge corner, hitting the wall at 260 km/h (about 161 mph). He was knocked unconscious but was thankfully not seriously injured. He showed great courage by returning to race just a few weeks later.

The Dream of Formula One

Yoong competing in a Champ Car race at Brands Hatch in 2003.

In 2001, Yoong's dream came true. He got a call from the Minardi Formula One team. With sponsorship from the Malaysian company Magnum, he secured a seat for the final three races of the 2001 season. He made his debut at the 2001 Italian Grand Prix, becoming the first Malaysian F1 driver.

Yoong stayed with Minardi for the 2002 season, with future star Mark Webber as his teammate. His best result came at the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix, where he finished in seventh place. This was a fantastic result for the small Minardi team.

However, the rest of the season was challenging. The Minardi car was not very competitive, and Yoong struggled to match the pace of the other drivers. He failed to qualify for a few races because he was outside the 107% rule, which requires drivers to be within a certain time of the fastest car. After the 2002 Japanese Grand Prix, Yoong left Formula One.

Career After Formula One

Yoong's racing career was far from over. He went on to compete in many different racing series around the world, showing his skill and versatility.

A1 Grand Prix: Racing for Malaysia

Yoong at an A1 Grand Prix series meeting.

From 2005 to 2008, Yoong raced for A1 Team Malaysia in the A1 Grand Prix, a series where drivers represented their countries. This is where Yoong's career saw a major revival. He became a star of the series, winning three races for his home country. His victories in China and the Czech Republic made him a national hero.

Endurance and Touring Cars

Yoong also tried his hand at endurance racing. He competed in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, with a best finish of eighth place overall in 2007. He also raced in the Australian V8 Supercars championship, driving a powerful Ford Falcon.

In 2010, he won the GTC class at the 1000km of Zhuhai race, driving an Audi R8 LMS. He continued to have great success with Audi, winning the Audi R8 LMS Cup championship three times in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Life Outside the Car

Alex Yoong driving his Audi R8 LMS Cup car, 2015

Yoong married Arriana Teoh, a former Miss Malaysia World, in 2002. They have a son, Alister, who is now a racing driver himself, following in his father's footsteps.

Interestingly, before he focused on motorsports, Yoong was a talented water skier. He won a silver medal at the 1997 SEA Games. He returned to the sport in 2011 and won a gold and a silver medal at the 2011 SEA Games. His younger sisters are also champion water skiers.

Today, Yoong is a respected figure in the world of motorsports. He helps develop young Asian drivers for the Lotus team and is a popular commentator for Formula One broadcasts on Fox Sports Asia.

Images for kids

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  Since his arrival in A1 Grand Prix Yoong won three races: two sprint races and one feature race.

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  Yoong driving his Meritus GP2 Asia race car in Shanghai.

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  Alex Yoong (centre) with Marchy Lee (left) and Matthew Marsh (right) after winning the GTC class of the 2010 1000 km of Zhuhai.

See also

In Spanish: Alex Yoong para niños