Driver Kareen Kaur becomes first Singaporean set to take part in F1 Academy Rookie Test

Singaporean driver Kareen Kaur is set to become the first Singaporean to take part in the F1 Academy Rookie Test.

The 16-year-old shared the news in an Instagram post on Wednesday (Aug 25), describing the opportunity as a moment she "never imagined" she would experience so soon.

The rookie test aims to give young racing prospects a chance to showcase their skills and prove themselves worthy of earning a full-time seat or a "Wild Card entry" for the 2027 season.

Kareen, who is among the 18 selected drivers, will drive the same car like other drivers under the same conditions, and will be working with some of the biggest teams in junior single-seater racing.

"What started with a dream has now brought me to a moment I never imagined I'd experience this soon," she wrote.

"I'm incredibly grateful and honoured to have been selected for the F1 Academy Rookie Test."

Kareen began her racing journey at the age of eight, when she first tried driving fun karts, CNA reported.

She finished fourth out of 12 drivers, and her performance piqued the interest of an Italian go-karting team, who offered her a spot on the team.

She went on to race in the junior Rok category before moving on to the Rok Cup Asia series in the senior category, eventually representing her country at the Rok Cup Superfinals for two years.

"Being the first Singaporean to take part in this test makes it a moment I'll carry with me for a long time."

Currently, she races as a Formula 4 driver for Evans GP, where she secured a top-10 finish on her debut, becoming the youngest Southeast Asian female driver to do so. 

Kareen said she was ready to "give it everything" and grow as a driver.

"I know there is so much to learn, and I'm ready to give it everything I have, soak in every experience and keep growing as a driver," she said.

The rookie test will be held from Sept 9 to 11 at the Navarra Circuit in Spain. 

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