It’s a dream come true for young Branden
NOT many get to sit in a multi-million dollar Formula One car.
So, when seven-year-old Branden Lim got the chance, he gleefully accepted it.
The young boy and his 10-year-old brother Jaden were all smiles as they met three-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton at the Sepang International Circuit pit garage for the first time. “It was awesome.
“I love cars and Lewis let me sit in his race car,” said Branden yesterday.
Branden suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, which is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterised by loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle wasting.
He said he has been a big fan of motor racing since watching the movie Cars.
“Lightning McQueen and Lewis Hamilton are just so awesome,” he said.
His mother, 43-year-old Yap Sook Yee, said Branden was diagnosed with SMA when he was a year old.
“Since this is going to be the last race, we asked a friend in Petronas if we could get passes to the event.
“Instead, they surprised us by arranging for us to visit the Formula 1 pit garage and meet Lewis Hamilton,” she said, adding that they would watch the race at home on Sunday because it was difficult for Branden to be out for long periods due to his weak immune system.
Her husband, Edmund Lim, 44, who is a F1 fan himself, described the experience as “out of this world”.
“We’re so happy to be here. We got up close to a Formula 1 car,” he said.