Andrew Tang - A True Singaporean Legend in the Making?

We have come across a good number of stories featuring people, whom against all odds, become great at what they do, and in turn go on to fly the Singapore flag wherever they may be.

Names like Joseph Schooling and Yip Pin Xiu are definitely names that will be forever tied to recently winning of gold medals, and not forgetting Tan Howe Liang, whom for the longest time was the only person to have won an Olympic Medal.

At twenty-two, Andrew Tang may not be a name known to many, but he is the first Singaporean ever to be selected for Porsche China Junior Programme.

Oneshift managed to catch up with Andrew in the midst of his busy schedule to learn more about this young driver.

His exposure began at a young age, coming from a family of car racing buffs. Andrew’s father is a great fan of F1, and had exposed a young Andrew to the sport. Andrew shared that at age 3, his favourite thing to watch was “The Right to Win”, a documentary about the legendary Ayrton Senna, whom believed he had the given right to win. According to Andrew, he kept watching it over and over again.

At 7 years of age, young Andrew had his first taste of karting, at Kart World in Jurong, which he does modestly tell us that it was a slow start to his race career. He was recommended by a friend of his father’s to try out at a competition in Malaysia, as he was getting good at the sport. This proved to be a humbling experience for the young Andrew as he came in last. While it was just one obstacle he faced, his greatest bit of advice came from his father, who instilled in him the belief that in whatever he did; he should keep going, giving his best.

2011 to 2014 saw Andrew with McLaren, and even having the opportunity to train with F1 driver Jensen Button. With him honing his skills. Around the same time, he saw himself through several formula race series types, cumulating with him emerging as champion of the Toyota racing series.

While the nation called Andrew for National Service, he never lost sight of what he really wanted to once he had completed his service.

Carefully planning his NS leave, he utilised his time wisely, ensuring that he went for his official test and the 1st round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series.

In 2015, Andrew got a big break when among 9 selected candidates from China, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore; he was picked for the Porsche China Junior Programme. His attempts to follow in the footsteps of the 19 Porsche Juniors from the equivalent European scheme who have all become professionals will be boosted considerably with the expert coaching and training provided all season by an impressive team of legendary Porsche figures.

This promises to be an exciting season of growth for this young trailblazer.

As we wrapped up, we asked where he was headed next, and Andrew replied that he was going for his workout to stay in shape (that would be the second for the day).

Name: Andrew Tang

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: 13th November 1994

Nationality: Singapore

Residence: Singapore

Height: 178cm

Weight: 69kg

2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

2015 Winner of the Porsche China Junior Programme selection

2014 Toyota Racing Series – CHAMPION

2013 Toyota Racing Series – 15th out of 22 drivers

Formula Renault ALPS championship – 20th out of 42 drivers

2012 CIK FIA Asia Pacific KF2 Championship in Japan – 3rd Runner up

WSK Euro Series round 3 La Conca, Italy – 8th place out of 80 drivers

CIK FIA KF2 World Championship – 20th out of 103 drivers

2011 Asian Karting Open Championship – CHAMPION

All Japan Championship Round 5 Suzuka – VICE CHAMPION

CIK FIA KF2 World Championship – 21st out of 103 drivers

WSK Master Series Round 5 KF2 Viterbo, Italy – 3rd Runner up

Bridgestone Cup, Italy – 7th out of 60 drivers

North European KF2 Qualification – 19th out of 58

2010 7 rotax max SENIOR series races in Suzuka, Japan

Rotax Max series in the world – Finished 8th in his 2nd race OUT 70 DRIVERS

Rotax Max Series Champion in Singapore and won himself a seat at the Rotax Max World Grand Finals 2010 representing Singapore at La Conca Italy.

Qualified into the Rotax Max World Finals and made it into the final 34 out of 72 series champions (Only Asian and 1st Singaporean to qualify into the final grid of 34), finished 23rd place out of 34 drivers

2009 ASIAN KARTING OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Round 5 HELD IN Thailand, KF3 category, won 2 seats and prefinal and finished 2nd

2005 KBS-KKW Kart Prix Champion KKS Malaysian Open Karting Championship Round 2 Champion KKS Malaysian Open Karting Championship Round 3 Champion AKOC Macau International Kart Grand Prix Comer 85CC Champion Rotax Langkawi Motor Sport Club Round 2 Champion

2004 AKOC Round 2 Macau Comer 85CC Runner up AKOC Comer 85CC series 2nd Runner Up

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