I’m Claire Jedrek, and proudly call Singapore my home after twenty years.

I was born along the River Thames, London to a Singaporean mother and English father who’s father, my grandfather was from Krakow, Poland.

I’ve worked in the media since I was 17 and took a short hiatus when I moved to Perth for 2.5 years. After moving back I dove back into what I was most comfortable with, Fitness & Sports. I returned to presenting for TV & events again in those industries.

This led me to my fiancé, race driver Yuey Tan, and commentating for karting. An opportunity then rose to test in single seater Formula Renaults and I learnt to manage a Singaporean racing team in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.

It was at this time in 2013 that I put a sponsorship package together, and started racing myself in the first season of the Malaysia Championship Series. I know it’s not always easy to start a new sport in your 30’s, I feel so grateful to have now finished a second year of racing competitively . I worked hard this year to improve my skill set because and I’ll always have the memory of getting to stand on the podium at the Malaysia Formula One support race this year. It will always be an incredible memory to me.

I love racing and it has breathed a unique space in the market for me as motorsport and automotive presenter, which I now live and breath.

I never felt so much love for my 30’s and there is more appreciation for friends and family, as I took on another project with my fiancé Yuey Tan and opened the electric fun kart business called The Karting Arena @ Bukit Timah.

The last 3 years of my life has been chock-a-blocked but it has been so rewarding trying to create a community sport, where people leave with a smile on their faces and a new skill set.

I feel like I have so much to offer and not enough hours in my day to finish everything I’d like to embark on.

What drives you to do what you do each day?

I have never really looked that far ahead and didn’t exactly know what I was getting myself into. I always felt a bit lost in my twenties and was unsure of myself. I truly do live by the rules that life is short, a bit cliché, but I am enjoying myself now and the endless possibilities that Singapore has led me to. I look forward to sipping on a wine on a weekday afternoon someday soon as a reward!

The most inspiring person you have known or the person you look up to the most?

I think my parents have been resilient and reinvented themselves many times over. They have instilled in me that hardwork is the only way and it is never too late to learn.

The third person who I deeply adore is Yuey Tan, as he has been patient with teaching me the ropes. Working with your partner 24/7, 7 days a week is incredibly difficult and I believe we’ve found the right mix of work and play.  I’d like to think that I have shared with him my values and knowledge.We always say our please and thank you’s to one another and remind each other to be kind to one another and those around us, there is no such thing as entitlement.

What one thing has helped you along your journey that you couldn’t live without?

My family and friends. They have supported me when I was in the deepest trough and helped to place me back on life’s peaks. It’s important to cut white noise in your life and be thankful for the ones who sit quietly and out of sight.

Best advice ever received?

Panic slowly. Our team racing engineer always says this to us. It’s something I apply all the time. It’s sometimes easier to assume the worst or have negative thoughts rather than staying calm and positive. At the end of the day we view the world the way we want it and I choose to view it positively.

What does the Modern Nyonya look like in your eyes?

The Modern Nonya has different cycles of the everyday woman. Breaking barriers, she has has a sense for adventure, and the belief that we should live not to regret.

If you had the opportunity to get a big message across to a large group of people, what would it be?

Don’t worry too much about what others think if you, we weren’t put here to please everyone. Learn to say No, and take on new challenges whether it be daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. My challenge was to learn tennis and I finally learnt how to play!

Lastly go racing! It’ll change your life like it did to mine!

You can follow Claire at The Karting Arena@Bukit Timah  as well as Instagram @ClaireJedrek.