(JP/R.Berto Wedhatama)She may be fierce behind the steering wheel but Indonesian racing driver Alexandra Asmasoebrata is all poise and grace in an hourglass cocktail dress.

The 24-year-old, better known as Andra, said days before taking part in the Asian Formula Renault in Zhuhai International Circuit in China from Dec. 8 to 9 that she is working to balance her life, just like when she is racing.

“I only took part in four races this year, much fewer than the 24 races that I had last year.

In my free time, I keep doing physical training in Jakarta to get fit for racing. I should also practice with my car, but it is already nestled in a pit in China. I will go to China to prepare for the race on Dec. 3 or around a week before the challenge.

Usually I just go to the gym, but sometimes I feel bored running on the treadmill. That is why I will just hit the streets to get a different ambiance because jogging is a very important form of training for me.

My other exercise is doing yoga. I have been doing yoga for quite a long time. When my friends told me about the benefits of bikram yoga, I got interested and decided to join a class. I have been doing bikram yoga since early this year. Anyway, the class is in Kuningan, South Jakarta, which is near my house.

At a glance, people might wonder about the relationship between racing and yoga. Yoga teaches us about balance and racing needs balance too. Racing is an activity that not only involves physical aspects, but also the mind.

I love traveling, but I decided to have a vacation only after the racing season was over. I just don’t feel comfortable having a long holiday in the middle of the season. I may just go somewhere near Jakarta if I really want to enjoy a break.

I like everything; the beach, the mountains and shopping malls. When I want to buy certain things, I have to shop alone. I don’t like to have any company because at the end, somehow I will not buy the things I plan to buy.

I am also fond of pampering myself in a beauty salon. I frequently take hair spas, manicure and pedicure treatments. I have had long hair for 12 years. Once, I had short hair when I was in elementary school, but after that, I decided to keep it long.

Having long hair is very tough, actually. Sometimes I feel I cannot take care of it any longer. When I am racing, I have to wash my hair every day. I also need an hour-and-a-half just to blow-dry it, which wastes a lot of my time.

Nobody asked me to have long hair, not even my parents. This long hair balances my extreme side which loves racing. I also try to put on makeup by myself. I am not an expert at it, but I can do it. After all, I like to have a feminine appearance.”

— Indah Setiawati

Popular

To my horror, it’s just a movie!

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Pentagon chief congratulates Prabowo on being elected President