With more than a quarter of this season's races in the region and the introduction of a new team, the Asian connection in Formula One is getting stronger. And if Alex Yoong has anything to do with it, we'll soon be seeing more Asians behind the wheel as well.
Nine years ago, Yoong became Malaysia's first-ever Formula One driver when he was given his big break with Minardi. Now, the sometime TV pundit has joined the new Lotus team as its head of driver development.
'It's no longer a pipe dream for Asians to reach Formula One so the desire is bigger because suddenly they know it is possible,' Yoong said. 'What we are trying to instil into our drivers is the knowledge that they could be a F1 world champion one day, provided they show the determination, work ethic and professionalism needed.'
The 2010 World Championship will begin with the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in March with Japan's Kamui Kobayashi, of BMW Sauber, as the only confirmed Asian starting driver.
The 23-year-old son of a sushi chef moves to Sauber after making his debut with the now-defunct Toyota team towards the end of last season as cover for the injured Timo Glock. But Kobayashi finds himself outnumbered this year by four Brazilians and six Germans in the 13 teams, including former seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
Kobayashi was the 2008-09 champion of the GP2 Asia Series. In an attempt to develop regional talent, GP2 Asia teams are encouraged to have at least one non-European or non-North American, but opportunities for Asians in the three-year history of this feeder circuit have been limited.