Revved ready
> Actor-producer Hans Isaac puts pedal to the metal in season 3 of Celebrity Car Wars
SIX CELEBRITIES from around the region will show off their driving skills, endurance, and smarts in the latest season of Celebrity Car Wars on History (Astro channel 555).
Joining Malaysian actor, producer and director Hans Isaac ( above) on the series are Singaporean actor and comedian Munah Bagharib, Filipino actor and VJ Diego Loyzaga, American-Filipino actor-model-singer Xian Lim, and Thai-Australian actorsinger-model Matthew Deane together with his wife, Lydia Sarunrat, who is a Thai R&B idol, actress, and social media influencer.
Host Bobby Tonelli and guest mentors – professional race drivers Gaby dela Merced and Michele Bumgarner – are back to steer the stars along their eight-week journey.
Viewers can look forward to an all-new perilous construction site obstacle course, an epic drag race down WCC’s Binalonan Airfield in Manila, and an amusing battle to pimp out a wreck.
Other challenges from previous seasons have been brought back by popular demand, including a Jeepney race, reverse racing, and an insanely tough off-road 4x4 ride along Pampanga’s Sacobia River. They will also face the dreaded brick wall, which will test their reflexes.
To amp things up, the third season also sees past contenders Marc Nelson and Phomela Baranda return for the series’ famous drag race, and season two champion Dominic Lau making a special appearance to guest-referee the car-football challenge.
In a recent press event, Hans admitted that the only other car-related competition he had ever taken part in was in the Merdeka Race held in Sepang many years ago.
In that race, teams had to change drivers every couple of hours, and though it was tiring, Hans said it was nothing compared to what he faced on Celebrity Car Wars where every day was something different.
“We did not know what we were going to race when we got up in the morning. When we reached the track, what was parked in front of us was what we needed to race,” said Hans, who was comfortable racing on a proper track, but was out of his element when they went off-road.
He added that there was fierce competition among the celebrities as it soon became a question of national pride since they were representing their respective countries. However, they have since become friends.
Asked about his very first car, Hans said he got it 27 years ago at the age of 20. It was a white Proton Saga with small hubcaps. “It cost RM17,500. I don’t have the car any more, but I wish I did.”
The car was essentially his late father’s way of teaching Hans responsibility.
His father put down RM2,000 as a deposit, and told Hans that from that day, the car was his responsibility.
However, while driving the car out of his neighbourhood to join some friends for a drink, another car crashed into it.
“I nearly cried. I thought my dad was going to kill me,” he said. “The man who hit my car was such a gentleman. He went to speak to my dad and had my car repaired.
“That gesture was something I would never forget. It was a genuine thing to do.”
As for the show, he said one of his most memorable moments was when he had to race a Jeepney (a mode of public transportation in The Philippines), and the driver-cum-owner of the vehicle begged him to drive it carefully.
Hans said it had nothing to do with Malaysians being bad drivers but because the vehicle was the man’s means of making a living.
It made him realise how lucky he is. Being on the show has taught him about different cultures and the lives of others who are not as fortunate as himself.