Alex Yoong

Alex Yoong
熊龙
Yoong in 2006
Born
Alexander Charles Yoong Loong

(1976-07-20) 20 July 1976 (age 48)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Spouse
(m. 2002)
Children1
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityMalaysia Malaysian
Active years20012002
TeamsMinardi
Entries18 (14 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry2001 Italian Grand Prix
Last entry2002 Japanese Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years20062007
TeamsRfH, Charouz
Best finish8th (2006)
Class wins0
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese熊龍
Simplified Chinese熊龙
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXióng Lóng
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingHung4 Lung4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJHîm-liông
Tâi-lôHîm-liông

Alexander Charles Yoong Loong (Chinese: 熊龙; pinyin: Xióng Lóng; born 20 July 1976) is a Malaysian racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One at 18 Grands Prix from 2001 to 2002. Yoong remains the only Malaysian driver to compete in Formula One.

Born in Kuala Lumpur to a Malaysian Chinese father and English mother, Yoong began his career in saloon cars before moving into the Proton one-make series. He later raced in single-seater cars where he won the Malaysian Championship in 1995. He moved into Formula Renault in 1996 with help from sponsors but finished outside the top-10. Yoong consulted his father, who believed his son would succeed in lower categories. Yoong decided to drive in Formula Three but dropped out in 1999 after withdrawal from his sponsors. He subsequently went into Formula 3000 and managed to improve despite a horrific crash at Spa-Francorchamps during the season. Yoong also raced in Formula Nippon where he achieved no success.

Yoong became the first and, as of 2024, only Malaysian to race in Formula One with Minardi at the 2001 Italian Grand Prix and left the sport in 2002.[1] Yoong had a less successful career in CART World Series but had improved in the Porsche Carrera Cup with a less successful foray into V8 Supercars. Yoong raced in A1 Grand Prix series between 2005 and 2008 and scored three victories. In between this, Yoong raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Yoong worked for Lotus Racing as head of driver development and is also a commentator for Fox Sports Asia.[2]

  1. ^ "Alex Yoong". ESPNSTAR.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010.
  2. ^ "About Me – Alex Yoong". alexyoong.com. 15 June 2015.