First F1 Korean Driver. Is his name Mun Sung Hak?
"The hardest thing for race driver is to stay fit. Every day I go to gym minimum for 2 hours. The 2nd one is to manage both university study and racing", - says Mun Sun Hak, a determined young guy who's racing career began at 10. It was his father who got interested in car racing and Formula 1 first and then sent his his son to carting school.
Now Mun Sung Hak is 22 years old and full of energy. His goal is to become the first F1 Korean driver. On June 7th he was appointed PR ambassador for F1 Korean GP 2013.
At the F1 promo event on June 8th in Seoul, where we met him, Mun had to sign autographs to fans. We got one too. "Pls support F1 races a lot" - says his signature.
Step by step Mun Sung Hak got to Formula 2 where he's driving now in UK. Next week he and his manager Scott Lee are planning to go back to England to meet the teams and participate in events related to F1 British GP scheduled in Silverstone on June 28-30. Talking about chances to join F1 team Mun is trying to be realistic:" Even though my dream team is Ferrari, and favorite team I wish I could join is Mercedes Benz, for now more or less real is for me to join Force India. To get to the best teams requires some experience in teams occupying lower positions first". Scott Lee is optimistic:" To become F1 driver might take us about two years". This means Korea might get a first-ever F1 driver in a near future.
While Korea is still cannot boast to be a autosport-loving country, F1 organizing committee is trying to get government support - same as in China and other countries where F1 is fully sponsored by national budjet. "To make Formula 1 popular in this country you need to have a Korean F1 driver - me" - says Mun Sung Hak. His manager Scott Lee is adding: "To get to Formula 1 we need to have racing experience in Europe, thats why we're based in UK which is motherland to autosports and Formula 1". "And we also need rich sponsors" - smiles Scott.
There are more F1 promo events coming in Seoul with Mun's participation before the main event - Korean GP which is slated at Yongam track on Oct 4-6, 2013. How to go to F1:
Mun Seong Hak Driver Profile
Name: Mun Seong Hak
Date of birth: 1990.07.28 (23 years old)
Education: Sungkyunkwan University School of Business Administration student
Hobbies: Golf / Inline Skating
Debut: April 2001 Korea Carting Grand Prix
Career summary:
- 2011 FIA Formula 2 Championship (MSV)
- 2010 Formula Renault 3.0 World Series Testing (E-Rain)
- 2009 F3 testing (Calin Motorsport)
- 2008 British Formula Renault Championship appearances
- 2007 British Formula Renault 8th stage, 3d place
- World Cup 2005 Asia Pacific Comprehensive 8th in Carting
- 2003 Korea Carting Grand Prix champion
Bio by Mun's Facebook page:
2011 marked Sunghak Mun's debut in the FIA Formula Two Championship and as well as being the only Korean driver in the F2 field he is also the only Korean driver competing in Europe. 20-year old Sunghak, also known as Tom, competed in the Formula Renault 2.0 BARC series in 2007 and moved up to the full UK championship the following year. This brought him to the attention of A1GP Team Korea, who added him to their driving strength for the 2008/9 season. Recently Sunghak has competed in the Formula BMW Pacific championship, recording a podium finish in China on his way to 10th place. Sunghak will be riding a wave of increased exposure to motor racing in his native Korea, following Korean Grand Prix.
Awards 2007 - Formula Renault 2.0 UK BARC 2007 - Formula Renault 2.0 UK Winter Series 2008 - Formula Renault 2.0 UK 2008 - Formula Renault 2.0 UK Winter Series 2010 - Formula BMW Pacific 2011 - FIA Formula 2 Championship
Pics provided by https://www.facebook.com/F1KoreanFans
