The Red Bull Rookies became a familiar sight in Malaysian endurance racing between 2008 and 2014. The first Female Driver Search was held in 2007 and the chosen drivers raced a Honda DC2 in the Merdeka Millennium Endurance race. The first official Rookies team was assembled in 2008 and consisted of Malaysian women selected at special events.
The driver search expanded to Singapore and Brunei in 2010. A few male drivers were assessed in 2011.
Each year, a couple of Rookies were retained as “Senior Rookies” to mentor the newcomers alongside non-driving manager Kenvin Low.
Proton cars were used by later Rookies teams, who usually took part in the Sepang 1000km as well as the Merdeka race.
Like many driver search schemes, it had limited success in launching long-term careers for many of its entrants, although Leona Chin is still racing in 2021 and Siti Shahkirah Shaharul has competed quite extensively away from the team.
Some initial selection events were held in 2014, but no 2015 team was assembled and the project was quietly retired.
Below is a list of Rookies recruits between 2007 and 2013. Each team competed the season following their selection. Male drivers’ names are in italics.
2007 (Red Bull Female Driver Search)
Philippa Yoong
Deanna Yusoff
Hiroko Nakamura
2008
Puteri Ayu Jasmin
Leona Chin
Baizura Ruslan
Norlina Johor
2009
Diana Chin
Nur Hayati Omar
2010
Malaysia
Carmen Lim
Lee Hui Jing
Brunei
Melline Jaini
Liana Radzak
2011
Malaysia
Siti Shahkirah Shaharul
Mark Darwin
Singapore
Amirah Mokhtar
Emmiline Ang
Brunei
Fauziah Haziz
2012
Singapore
Melissa Huang
Brunei
Siti Zirwatul
2013
Malaysia
Geraldine Read
Brunei
Illy Aquila Fateen Ismail
(Image from http://malaysianracedriver.blogspot.com/)