PETALING JAYA: Nationwide motorsport racer Sophia Zara Mustaffa Kamal is making her mark each on the observe and behind the digital wheel.
The 17-year-old, who grew to become the youngest feminine observe racer in Malaysia when she made her debut at 15 two years in the past, added one other achievement to her rising listing on the Malaysia Video games (Sukma) final month.
Competing in e-sports for Selangor, Sophia received gold within the Simulator Racing Particular person occasion and silver within the group occasion.
“I began sim racing lower than a yr in the past. I by no means imagined I might compete at this degree,” mentioned Sophia.
Her expertise in actual racing gave her a fundamental understanding of the simulator, however she admitted the transition was not with out its challenges.
“In an actual automobile, you depend on feeling and motion. However in a simulator, it’s extra about visible data.
“There was positively a studying curve, however I ultimately received the dangle of it.”
Having tasted success behind the digital wheel, Sophia plans to proceed competing in each types of racing.
“I don’t see it as a one-off expertise. I wish to maintain competing in each platforms as a result of they complement one another,” mentioned Sophia, who hopes to characterize Malaysia at subsequent yr’s SEA Video games on dwelling soil.
She continued her twin racing journey on the Malaysia Competition of Velocity on Sept 6, profitable gold within the girls’s e-sport and karting slalom occasions, in addition to bronze within the senior karting slalom.
She is going to subsequent take to the asphalt together with her racing group, Tremendous Evergreen Motorsport, within the Toyota Gazoo Racing sequence, which is able to conclude its season in October.