LETS RACE: PM Lee checks out a go-kart at the Sengkang West National Day Carnival as Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Lam Pin Min (left) looks on. -- ST PHOTO: EDWIN KOOPRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday flagged off the first heartland go-kart race.
Five Members of Parliament joined in the fun, taking to the wheel at the Sengkang West National Day Carnival.
Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs Lee Bee Wah and Lam Pin Min, and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MPs Teo Ser Luck, Michael Palmer and Charles Chong got all decked out in black jackets and helmets for the event.
More such races in the heartland are being planned to tie in with the first Singapore Grand Prix in September next year.
Mr Teo, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said: 'We can't bring Formula One cars to the heartland, but we can create awareness of car racing and F1, and give residents a taste with go-karts.'
Such events are not just for race enthusiasts, he added, but bring families and residents together.
As to whether the F1 street circuit downtown could be used for go-karting, Mr Teo said this could be explored when the circuit was ready.
Currently, the only go-kart track here is in Jurong.
Yesterday, some 150 residents paid $15 each for a 15-minute spin on the temporary circuit: a 100m stretch of Sengkang East Way.
Among them was musician Jeremy See, 31, who said he enjoyed the thrill: 'It was right at my doorstep, so I decided to try it.'
About 3,000 residents attended the carnival, where PM Lee watched stunt bikers perform, toured game stalls, played an arcade car-racing game with three residents and saw several children demonstrate their go-karting skills.
He also viewed six race cars, two of which were built by NUS engineering students, and displays by the Singapore Motor Sports Association.
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