99-Year-Old Mahathir Drives 154 km/h at Sepang International Circuit

Most of us learnt how to drive because we were told that it was a skill that we’d have for the rest of our lives. And Malaysia’s former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, shows us just how true that statement is.

The 99-year-old former prime minister was recently seen driving an Audi Q5 SUV at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), bringing the car to a top speed of 15.4 km/h.

Meanwhile, your wife doesn’t even dare to drive at 15.4km/h at Jurong East Ave 1.

99-Year-Old Mahathir Drives 154 km/h at Sepang International Circuit

If you were 99 years old, do you think you’d still be driving? Well, for 99-year-old Dr Mahathir, the answer is yes — he’d even still be flooring the car at that age.

In a video uploaded on the former Malaysian prime minister’s Facebook page on Monday (23 September), the 99-year-old was seen cruising in an Audi Q5 SUV.

Image: Facebook (Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad)
Image: Facebook (Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad)

Later, he floored the pedal and brought the car to a top speed of 154 km/h.

Image: Facebook (Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad)

“Too old” for the polls but never “too old” for some racing lah. We wonder if Formula One (F1) is looking for a new driver.

Later, at the end of the video, Dr Mahathir was seen stepping out of the car with a big smile on his face.

Image: Facebook (Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad)

A good drive never fails to make someone’s day lah.

Mahathir: Why the Sepang International Circuit was Built

But before Dr Mahathir floored the Audi in the video, he was initially in the passenger seat, being interviewed by the SIC non-executive chairman, Tan Sri Mohamed Azman Yahya, who was originally in the driver’s seat.

Image: Facebook (Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad)

Mr Azman had asked Dr Mahathir more about the idea behind the SIC and bringing F1 to Malaysia.

“We don’t have many tourist attractions and having a race would stimulate tourists and visitors from foreign countries. Also, we need to entertain people,” Dr Mahathir shared.

The 99-year-old also shared that in the initial stages, the SIC was envisioned for the F1 races.

And sure enough, the SIC hosted the F1 Malaysian Grand Prix between 1999 and 2017 — nearly two decades straight.

The former prime minister also said that Malaysia could be proud of having hosted F1 races, adding that Malaysia was the first developing country to bring F1 to their shores.

Up till today, the SIC, which was built during Dr Mahathir’s first stint as prime minister, continues to host all sorts of racing events — from the Petronas Grand Prix to the Sepang 1000km.