Their names may not be as widely known as Formula 1 drivers like David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher, but Asia's lesser-known, yet equally car-savvy rally and racing car drivers will be out in force and chasing the checkered flag in downtown Taipei this weekend when they compete in the International Gymkhana Grand Prix (國際金卡那大獎賽).
Organized jointly by the popular on-line car publi-cation Motoring Fans (玩車友) and the Chinese Taipei Motorsport Association (中華賽車會) the event is sponsored by Hyundai Motors and has the backing of the governing body of international motorsports, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The gymkhana will take place in Taipei at the Sungshan Tobacco Factory (
In all, over 50 drivers from more then 10 Asian countries including Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Sri Lanka will be setting out to prove who is the best wheelman.
It is the Japanese drivers who are expected to steal the show this year, as the team includes a couple of drivers from the international circuit. The drivers to watch out for are Super Touring Car champion Tetsuya Yamano and rally driver Masaki Nishihara.
While high-speed circuit racing is not on the agenda this weekend the event will still test the drivers ability to maneuver their customized four-wheeled chariots as precisely as possible through a series of specially designed events intended to test the driver's skills behind the wheel.
Divided into half a dozen categories, the two-day competition includes several types of slalom course: The autotest, which tests the driver's ability to swing the car through 180 degrees and 360 degrees from a standing start, autocross races through a series of S-bends and speed tests on straight runs over 100m.
As it is a car show there will also be prizes for the best-looking cars, the drivers of which will no doubt be mobbed by the equally attractive showgirls.
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