With the introduction of F1 Academy in 2024, the spotlight has been thrust onto women in motorsport, and it has finally introduced more female faces into a sport that has long been male-dominated.
After our interview with Bianca Bustamante last year, we are having another (virtual) sit down with another racing driver. However, given her age, she hasn’t started on actual race cars yet, but she is already a karting champion, having won three titles in the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship!
Today, we talk to 14-year old Katrina Ee, to ask about what makes her tick, what she wants to achieve, and how it is like being selected for the David Coulthard-backed Driver Development Program.
Q: Introduce Yourself!
I’m Katrina Ee, 14 years old, and I’m a kart racer from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! With my parents being from Malaysia and Hong Kong, I personally feel that I represent both flags when I’m on track, although I officially race under the Malaysian flag.
I started my karting journey at the City Karting track in Shah Alam, and over the years, I’ve managed to attain a personal best of around 55 seconds around the 1.16km circuit.
Honestly, even after having driven at many other kart tracks around the world, I still miss the City Karting track greatly. I grew up racing there, and it brings back a lot of fond memories, so I definitely have to go back when I have the opportunity.
Q: How long did it take you to progress into karting competitively. Was there anything, or anyone, that inspired you to do so?
I started karting when I was 7, and entered competitions when I was 9. My parents noticed my enjoyment and passion in karting, so they asked if I wanted to drive competitively. With an offer like that, it didn’t take much for me to say “yes”.
Ever since I started karting competitively, Double R Motorsports took me under their wing when I was 10, and under their tutelage and support, I have won 4 Asian championships, which I am truly grateful for.
For my inspirations, one of the drivers I look up to is Sophia Flörsch. For someone her age, she has accomplished a lot, having raced in various series like DTM, World Endurance Championship and Formula 4. Seeing her currently being part of Formula 3 and Alpine Academy gives me motivation to chase my own racing dreams, and hopefully accomplish even more than I could imagine.
Q: Were you Surprised When you Were Selected for the Elite More Than Equal Driver Development Program?
Very much so. The competition during the interviews was very heated, as there were many other worthy drivers who were also vying for the six slots, and I am beyond fortunate and immensely grateful for being given such an opportunity.
Honestly, I was extremely astonished to be selected. But, this has only made me increasingly determined to prove myself in front of those who believed in me and handed me this avenue of opportunity.
Plus, being the only Asian in the More Than Equal program, as much as I want to prove my capability, I don’t want the focus to be on comparing myself to the others. Instead, my focus will be on myself, and ultimately, I want my driving to do the talking.
Q: In your opinion, are there any trophies or awards in karting that have eluded you?
I would say… A win at the Sepang Karting Circuit. During the 2023 APMC of Sepang, I qualified in the top five of the final race, but I ended up crashing out in the second corner. Due to my kart suffering heavy damage, I had no choice but to retire.
Also, I can’t pinpoint which race it was exactly, but there was a race in Europe where I was pushed off the track. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, I don’t really know.
Both these instances were incredibly disappointing, but that’s racing. Still, I look upon these incidents as character building and to strengthen my resolve for the future.
Q: Besides F1, are there any other racing series that you would like to be a part of?
Preferably, I would stick to open wheel racing. But, the allure of Group GT3 has always fascinated me. It is rather amazing how these cars are based upon road cars, but at the same time don’t share that many parts as their road-going counterparts, and are almost bespoke race machines in some sense!
Q: Are there any words, thoughts or feelings that go through your mind when you’re out on track?
Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate. Do whatever it takes to win, remember as much as possible what my coach told me during training and practice, and make the most out of any given situation.
At the end of the day, racing involves a lot of trial and error, and there is no one-size fits all recipe for winning, so it is always a never-ending battle for that podium finish.
Q: Describe a typical race day for you, or the day leading up to race day
I’ll wake up early and head to the track early too. Once I’m at the track, I will start my preparations with warm-up exercises, attend race briefings, then head out on track to run practice laps.
Importantly, I will take mental notes of my surroundings, the track conditions, the tyre condition of my competitors, and the general feel of the people around me on track.
Like I mentioned earlier, it is all about maximum concentration, and I use every moment I have to possibly eke out any little advantage I can over the other drivers.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have received to date?
I would say that would be from my mother. She has always told me, “go big or go home”. My parents have done so much for me in my journey of competitive karting, especially with the high costs involved.
Furthermore, my parents aren’t always able to be by my side on race day, so it is imperative that I give every race my all, as thanks to everything that my parents have done for me to reach where I am today.
Q: Besides the ultimate Formula 1 goal, is there anything else you hope to achieve?
I think, for now, I just wish that I could’ve done more races in my younger days to get a better understanding of my limits and abilities. Who knows what I could’ve accomplished?
But, there is no point dwelling over the past. Ultimately, I have no regrets, and I am beyond grateful to my parents and the people who have believed in me to get to where I am today.
Q: Any parting words for your peers who might want to start karting, or even kart racing, themselves?
Ultimately, motorsport of any form is expensive, so you must have the passion, interest and determination to go the distance. I’m fortunate to have the strong backing of my parents from the start, as I couldn’t have done this without them.
But at the end of the day, I feel that a strong mindset is possibly the most important aspect of racing, because even when you are feeling your lowest during a race, giving up can never be an option, and that is something I continually remind myself about.
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