Kym Illman Newsletter – April 2025

Kym headed back to Perth after the Chinese Grand Prix—and what a weekend it was! Oscar Piastri’s win lit up the paddock, and hearing the Australian national anthem on Sunday was a proud moment. Kym thinks we might be hearing that tune a lot more in 2025 if Oscar keeps this pace up.

The trip to China was memorable for a few other reasons too. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Kym took the opportunity to sample some of the more “unusual” local dishes—including pork intestines and a few other things he’s still trying to identify. Safe to say, it was a culinary adventure!

Another highlight from the weekend came when Kym was granted access to shoot from the F1 race starter tower—the structure that hangs over the grid. It’s overseen by Rebecca Lee, who kindly walked Kym through the full lights-out procedure. From precision timing to coordinating the start sequence, it was fascinating to watch it unfold from that vantage point. Kym’s put together a full video on the experience—click the image below, it’s a must-watch for any F1 fan.

Back home in WA, Kym enjoyed a short but refreshing stint in Lancelin. With two jetskis in the mix now, mornings were spent on the water with the family—scouting for dolphins, sea lions, and enjoying a bit of fishing. One standout moment? A spontaneous ride from Lancelin to Wedge Island one morning in perfect weather.

Before the F1 season kicked off, the Illman clan also squeezed in a ski trip to Niseko, Japan. The snow was still in excellent condition for late season, and after a day on the slopes, Kym soaked in onsens with postcard views of Mt. Yotei. Bliss.

From there, it was straight to Melbourne for the Aussie GP. Kym and Jayce flew in from Japan—Kym a little apprehensive after reading some mixed reviews about China Eastern Airlines, but he was pleasantly surprised with the service and comfort on board.

While in Melbourne, Kym also treated himself to one of the most amazing dining experiences he’s had. The restaurant? Ishizuka—an intimate Japanese Kaiseki spot tucked away in the CBD. As fate would have it, just two seats down from Kym was none other than Yuki Tsunoda. The two had a brief but friendly chat, with Yuki asking about his recent ski trip in Niseko. Small world!

During the race weekend, Kym also snapped a beautiful portrait of rising Aussie star Jack Doohan in pitlane. We’re thrilled to announce that Jack will be signing 150 limited edition prints of this image during the Japanese GP weekend. They’re available now on Kym’s website—so if you’d like to own a piece of Australian motorsport history, don’t wait!

Next up, it’s back to Japan—this time for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Between the famously small hotel rooms (not ideal for someone Kym’s height!) and the electric energy of the Japanese fans, it’s always a special race.

Thanks as always for coming along for the ride. Whether it’s from the paddock, ski slopes, sushi bar, or a jetski—Kym’s stoked to keep sharing the journey with you.

Until next time, STAY PASSIONATE!