Adele Lew: Malaysian Racing Driver

Adele was introduced to motorsport through her father, Eddie Lew, a Malaysian racing veteran with more than three decades of experience.

From the age of three, she frequently accompanied him to racing circuits, including Sepang International Circuit and the former Johor Circuit in Pasir Gudang.

Watching her father compete became a familiar part of growing up, but Adele initially had no plans to follow in his footsteps.

That changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At around 19 years old, she began karting with her father, initially as something they could enjoy together. Before long, their casual sessions turned into regular training, sometimes lasting late into the night at karting circuits in Johor.

With Eddie sharing his experience and coaching her through different driving techniques, Adele began developing the skills and confidence to pursue competitive racing.

Adele's first major opportunity came when she was selected for Toyota Malaysia's Rookie Racing Programme.

As one of the selected young drivers, she received an opportunity to develop her skills and compete in the Toyota GR Vios Challenge Season 5.

Her competitive debut took place at Sepang International Circuit in March 2022, where she entered the Rookie Class.

It was also a special race weekend for the Lew family.

Adele's father, Eddie, was competing in the Super Sporting Class at the same event. Although they entered different categories, both classes shared the circuit, giving father and daughter the unusual experience of racing in the same field.

For Adele, the weekend marked her transition from recreational karting into organised circuit racing.

The Toyota GAZOO Racing programme introduced her to the demands of competitive driving, from race preparation and vehicle control to handling pressure during actual race conditions.

After her Toyota Vios Challenge debut, Adele continued gaining experience in Malaysian motorsport.

In 2024, she participated in the Malaysia Championship Series, competing with Blackwolf Racing By Bae in the SP2 V category.

Driving the #888 Suzuki Swift, she recorded seventh-place class finishes in both races during Round 3 at Sepang International Circuit.

Although these weren't podium results, the experience gave her more opportunities to compete in a different car and racing environment.

It was another important step as Adele continued developing beyond her initial rookie racing programme.

In 2025, Adele took her racing career beyond Malaysia by entering the B-Quik Thailand Super Series.

Competing for RUK Racing Team, she drove the #6 Toyota Yaris in the Thailand Super Eco C class.

The championship brought new challenges, including unfamiliar circuits, different racing conditions and competitors with extensive local track experience.

Her campaign included races at Chang International Circuit in Buriram and the Bangsaen Street Circuit.

Despite the challenges, Adele delivered several competitive results, including a class victory and multiple podium finishes.

Her Race 6 victory was a significant milestone, demonstrating her ability to compete successfully outside Malaysia.

Interestingly, Adele has described her Thailand experience as one of the proudest moments of her career.

Beyond the results, she valued the opportunity to race on unfamiliar circuits, adapt to new environments and compete alongside other talented female drivers.

The experience helped her recognise how much she had developed since her first racing debut in 2022.

In 2026, Adele began another chapter by joining Winbox Racing's GR86 Cup Malaysia programme.

She shares the team's #50 Toyota GR86, nicknamed "Rexy", with fellow Malaysian driver Rahul Raj Mayer.

The move also represents a new technical challenge.

Having previously competed in front-wheel-drive racing cars, including the Toyota Vios and Yaris, Adele is now gaining experience with the rear-wheel-drive Toyota GR86.

The different vehicle characteristics require her to adapt her driving technique, particularly when managing power delivery, traction and car balance through corners.

For Adele, the GR86 Cup provides another opportunity to build her competitive experience while working towards her longer-term ambitions in motorsport.

Adele believes that racing involves much more than driving quickly. It requires preparation, discipline and the ability to make precise decisions under pressure.

In interviews with Harper's BAZAAR Malaysia and The Peak Malaysia, she has shared several insights into how she approaches motorsport.

Competing in a predominantly male field has brought Adele challenges beyond the racing itself.

She has spoken about facing criticism and how female drivers can sometimes receive greater scrutiny for mistakes or have their achievements questioned.

Rather than allowing those opinions to distract her, Adele prefers to concentrate on improving her driving and delivering results.

Her perspective is straightforward: dedication, preparation and performance should matter more than gender.

Through her racing journey, she also hopes to encourage more young women to consider motorsport as something they can pursue seriously.

When she isn't racing, Adele has plenty keeping her busy.

Alongside her motorsport commitments, she runs an advertising agency and creates content for brands.

Her involvement in racing also extends beyond driving. Together with Rahul Raj Mayer, she helps manage aspects of their racing programme, including sponsorship discussions, logistics, race preparation and media commitments.

Outside work and motorsport, Adele enjoys golf, pickleball, gym sessions, playing guitar and discovering new restaurants.

Balancing these commitments isn't always easy, but the experiences have helped her develop skills that carry over between racing and business, particularly communication, decision-making and staying calm under pressure.

From her first karting sessions to international racing and the GR86 Cup Malaysia, here are the major milestones in Adele's motorsport journey.