By YAP YING YING
A petite figure walks into a garage where a race car is parked. One step into the bucket driver seat, seat belt on, key turned and the car’s engine revved to life. With a flick of long lustrous hair, the car speeds out of the garage. Wait, long hair? In December this year, School of Engineering (SOE) student Farah Raman Daniel Raman Raj, 23, is to become the first female car racer representing Taylor’s University in Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (Formula SAE) in Australia. Farah said her father is a car enthusiast and this has sparked the same interest in her ever since she was 16 years old. |
When asked about her favourite car, Farah replied, “It's definitely the Mercedes Station Wagon TE 230, which is also my father's favourite family car.”
“I participated in a competition called F1 in secondary school where I had to build a car powered by carbon dioxide and I managed to make it through nationals with my own designed car and won the fastest car award,” Farah said.
This experience has increased her passion for cars. However, she did not have the chance to develop her interest after graduating from secondary school. But now, finally, she has the opportunity to participate in Formula SAE.
Farah said her one and only obstacle during racing is being too short when compared to the other guys. The paddle box and the rest of the car equipment need to be specially designed for her. Nevertheless, her supportive team members and family have motivated her to push herself to the limit.
“I am scared for the first time because my team has high expectations on me. I need to keep up with the track record of the racing team. But as I work with the team, I slowly gain confidence by understanding better about the car, and this is where my confidence came from,” Farah said.
She is proud of her racing team because TU is the first private university to represent Malaysia in this national competition.
School of Engineering student Lee Wen Yew, 22, who befriended with Farah about two years, said, “Farah is always an outgoing girl among the engineering students. We tend to be more socially awkward but Farah usually initiates the conversations in the groups.”
“I think she will be a great racer, and she will definitely make us and the school proud,” Lee said.
Farah is grateful that her family is not against her in becoming a racer and always supporting her.
“My family members aren’t against me to join racing as long as I still focus on my studies,” she added.
Farah feels excited but nervous about the competition Formula SAE coming in this December.
She explained, “I can't wait to practice with new car but it's still under production.”
“Once the new racing car is ready, we will be having practises as often as possible,” Farah said.
Farah hopes that she can continue being in the team and go for another race after the December competition.
“Brick walls exist for a reason - they are there to show how badly you want something. Break it, go over it, do whatever you can for the things you want to do in life,” Farah said.
She said everyone should at least try to take their first step in achieving what they want. Like her, she took the first step and joined the Taylor’s Racing Team, which has made her university life more interesting.
SOE is promoting women in engineering as a means in solving the global issue of male engineers outnumbering female engineers. SOE is also trying to break that stereotype and prove to others that any female could be a racer too.
“I participated in a competition called F1 in secondary school where I had to build a car powered by carbon dioxide and I managed to make it through nationals with my own designed car and won the fastest car award,” Farah said.
This experience has increased her passion for cars. However, she did not have the chance to develop her interest after graduating from secondary school. But now, finally, she has the opportunity to participate in Formula SAE.
Farah said her one and only obstacle during racing is being too short when compared to the other guys. The paddle box and the rest of the car equipment need to be specially designed for her. Nevertheless, her supportive team members and family have motivated her to push herself to the limit.
“I am scared for the first time because my team has high expectations on me. I need to keep up with the track record of the racing team. But as I work with the team, I slowly gain confidence by understanding better about the car, and this is where my confidence came from,” Farah said.
She is proud of her racing team because TU is the first private university to represent Malaysia in this national competition.
School of Engineering student Lee Wen Yew, 22, who befriended with Farah about two years, said, “Farah is always an outgoing girl among the engineering students. We tend to be more socially awkward but Farah usually initiates the conversations in the groups.”
“I think she will be a great racer, and she will definitely make us and the school proud,” Lee said.
Farah is grateful that her family is not against her in becoming a racer and always supporting her.
“My family members aren’t against me to join racing as long as I still focus on my studies,” she added.
Farah feels excited but nervous about the competition Formula SAE coming in this December.
She explained, “I can't wait to practice with new car but it's still under production.”
“Once the new racing car is ready, we will be having practises as often as possible,” Farah said.
Farah hopes that she can continue being in the team and go for another race after the December competition.
“Brick walls exist for a reason - they are there to show how badly you want something. Break it, go over it, do whatever you can for the things you want to do in life,” Farah said.
She said everyone should at least try to take their first step in achieving what they want. Like her, she took the first step and joined the Taylor’s Racing Team, which has made her university life more interesting.
SOE is promoting women in engineering as a means in solving the global issue of male engineers outnumbering female engineers. SOE is also trying to break that stereotype and prove to others that any female could be a racer too.