The Amazing Race Asia 1 is the first season of The Amazing Race Asia, an Asian reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Hosted by Allan Wu, it featured ten teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around Asia and the Pacific Rim to win US$100,000. This season visited two continents and eight countries and travelled over during twelve legs. Starting in Kuala Lumpur, teams travelled through Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, India, the United Arab Emirates, before returning to Malaysia and finished in Kuching. Applications were accepted through 31 March 2006. The season began on 9 November 2006 on AXN Asia and the season finale aired on 1 February 2007.
Malaysian workers Zabrina Fernandez and Joe Jer Tee were the winners of this season becoming the first all-female team to win in the history of the Amazing Race franchise and were also the first winners to win only the final leg, while Hong Kong dating expats Sandy Sydney and Francesca Von Etzdorf finished in second place and Malaysian dating couple Andrew Tan and Syeon Park finished in third place.
Production Development and filming
In October 2005, Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific and Sony Pictures Television International's AXN Asia announced that it had earned the right to produce the first localized production of The Amazing Race. AXN Asia, which airs the original American series, had received many written requests for an Asian production from local viewers.
The season visited two continents and eight countries over a distance of more than , including the first time visit for an Amazing Race franchise to Indonesia, which had not been visited in the original version at the time of air (the nation would later be visited in the 19th season, in 2011).
Marketing The first season of the show was supported by the following regional sponsors: Sony Electronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd, AirAsia, Caltex, MSN, Nokia, and Bintan Lagoon Resort. Ford was a local sponsor, while the series was also supported by Tourism Malaysia. The sponsors played a major role in the series by providing prizes and integrating their products into various tasks. In addition, AirAsia was the sole airline used by racers, while Bintan Lagoon Resort was the sequester location for eliminated teams.
To introduce the new series to an Asian audience, a promotional tour visited Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Delhi prior to the series premiere.
Casting In July 2006, Singaporean television personality Allan Wu was introduced as the host of The Amazing Race Asia. Ricky Ow, General Manager of SPE Networks Asia described Wu as "a big fan of The Amazing Race" and felt that "his good looks and natural charisma will offer a different appeal from the US version."
Over 1000 teams across Asia applied for the series, with registration accepted through 31 March 2006. Ultimately, ten teams were selected to participate in the race; the cast included expatriates in Thailand and Hong Kong and Indian models. Host Allan Wu commented that "the producers definitely took the time and did their homework to select the most diverse, entertaining, and controversial batch of contestants for our first season".
Broadcasting An additional episode, subtitled "Memories" was a post-show interview special that aired one week after the season finale.
Cast
The cast consisted of a few local media representatives or their relatives. Zabrina Fernandez is a Ntv7 and Channel V television producer, as well as the sister of Malaysian film director Joshua Fernandez and Hitz.FM DJ JJ Fernandez. Aubrey Miles is a filipina actress who acted in local movies such as Prosti, Xerex, Sanib, A Beautiful Life and Gagamboy; she is also the co-host of noontime show Masayang Tanghali Bayan. Sahil Shroff is an Indian model. Prashant Raj Sachdev is an Indian actor who starred in the Bollywood movie Aag; he was also the runner-up of Mr. India 2004. Melody is a Singaporean TV and movie actress, having starred in local movies such as Street Angels and The Teenage Textbook Movie; she also played a supporting character in long-running drama Love Blossoms and its sequel, Love Blossoms II.
This season consists of five non-Asians; Andy, Francesca, Howard and Laura are from the United Kingdom, having separate representatives in Asian countries (as Andy & Laura representing Thailand), and Sandy is from New Zealand, is representing Hong Kong.
ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus 42MarriedManila, PhilippinesEliminated 1st(in Jakarta, Indonesia) 35 23Actress & ModelManila, PhilippinesEliminated 2nd(in Tabanan, Indonesia) 26 26ModelsMumbai, IndiaEliminated 3rd(in Auckland, New Zealand) 26 28Best FriendsSingaporeEliminated 4th(in Gibbston Valley, New Zealand) 31 40Best FriendsColombo, Sri LankaEliminated 5th(in Than Bok Khorani National Park, Thailand) 32 29EngagedKoh Samui, ThailandEliminated 6th(in Delhi, India) 37 34BrothersJakarta, IndonesiaEliminated 7th(in Dubai, United Arab Emirates) 36 26DatingKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThird Place 28 29DatingHong Kong, ChinaSecond Place 27 Zabrina Fernandez 26Co-WorkersKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaWinners Joe Jer Tee 29
Future appearances In 2010, Aubrey Miles appeared in Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown, the Philippine version of Survivor. In 2014, Melody Chen appeared on Leg 9 of The Amazing Race 25 as a Pit Stop greeter in Singapore. In 2016, Zabrina & Joe Jer appeared as the Pit Stop greeters for the third leg of The Amazing Race Asia 5 in their home country of Malaysia. In 2017, Sahran, seven months after being elected mayor of Haslemere, appeared on the British cooking programme Come Dine with Me. In 2021, Sahil Shroff competed on Bigg Boss 15, the Indian version of Big Brother.
Results The following teams participated in the season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Placements are listed in finishing order:
A placement with a dagger () indicates that the team was eliminated. An placement with a double-dagger () indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg, and were forced to relinquish all of their money, were not allotted money for the next leg, and were not allowed to acquire money until they started the next leg. An italicized placement means it is a team's placement at the midpoint of a double leg. A indicates that the team won a Fast Forward. A indicates that the team chose to use the Yield; indicates the team who received it. +Team placement (by leg) Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9a 9b 10 11 12 Zabrina & Joe Jer3rd4th5th6th3rd3rd5th4th4th3rd2nd1st Sandy & Francesca9th2nd3rd5th1st4th3rd5th1st1st3rd2nd Andrew & Syeon5th8th8th1st2nd4th2nd4th2nd3rd2nd1st3rd Mardy & Marsio1st2nd6th4th6th5th5th1st3rd2nd Andy & Laura7th7th7th7th1st2nd1st2nd1st Howard & Sahran9th3rd1st4th6th3rd Melody & Sharon6th5th3rd2nd7th Sahil & Prashant8th1st4th5th Aubrey & Jacqueline4th6th Ernie & Jeena2nd Notes
Race summary
Leg 1 (Malaysia)
Episode 1: "I Don't Think I Can Do This" (9 November 2006) Locations Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Independence Square) (Starting Line) Kuala Lumpur (Berjaya Times Square) Kuala Lumpur (Kompleks Kraf) Shah Alam (Shah Alam Stadium – City Karting Enterprise) Kuala Lumpur (Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve) Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Tower)
Episode summary Teams set off from Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur to retrieve their next clue, directed them to Berjaya Times Square where teams had to rappel down from the eight level of the shopping mall to grab their next clue down from the ground, instructed to drive themselves to Kompleks Kraf. This series' first Detour was a choice between Paint or Pot. In Paint, team members had to work together to make a batik painting based on the design shown to them to receive their next clue. In Pot, one team member had to make a pot from clay using a pottery wheel while the other member controlled the wheel's spin to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to drive to Shah Alam Stadium and each team member had to complete four consecutive laps around the circuit in go-karts before receiving their next clue. Before heading to the Pit Stop, teams were instructed to follow a certain trail in the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve to the top of the Kuala Lumpur Tower.
Additional note This was a non-elimination leg.
Leg 2 (Malaysia → Indonesia)
Episode 2: "They're Speedy, They're Fast and They're First" (16 November 2006) Eliminated: Ernie & Jeena
Locations Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Tower) Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur International Airport – Low Cost Carrier Terminal) → Jakarta, Indonesia (Soekarno–Hatta International Airport) Jakarta (Ragunan Zoo) Jakarta (SMA Negeri 60 High School ) Jakarta (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah – West Sumatra Pavilion) Jakarta (Pasar Kaget Melawai ) Jakarta (Merdeka Square – MONAS (National Monument))
Episode summary At the start of the leg, teams were instructed to drive to the airport's low cost carrier terminal and to catch on a pre-arranged AirAsia flight to Jakarta, Indonesia. Once there, they had to travel to Ragunan Zoo for their next clue. In this series' first Roadblock, one team member had to retrieve a clue in a box located inside a snake pit containing dangerous species second to anaconda in size, within two minutes. In this series' first Fast Forward, teams had to search among 50 students at the courtyard inside SMA Negeri 60 High School with Sony Walkman MP3 players. The first team to find the one Walkman playing a message that they have chosen correctly could exchange the Walkman for the Fast Forward award. Sahil & Prashant won the Fast Forward. Teams who did not attempt the Fast Forward had to travel to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah and had to find West Sumatra Pavilion. Once there, they had to perform a native Minangkabau plate dance called Tari Piring to follow the moves correctly until they would receive their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Push or Sell. Both Detours required teams to travel to Pasar Kaget Melawai and searched for the marked bakso vendors. In Push, teams had to push a bakso cart along a marked route, without spilling any soy sauce, while singing a traditional child song, "Abang Tukang Bakso" to receive their next clue. In Sell, teams had to sell (or eat) 15 bowls of bakso, each with a minimum selling price of Rp 2,000, to receive their next clue. After completing the Detour, teams must travel to MONAS (National Monument) and had to find IRTI car park entrance for the pit stop.
Leg 3 (Indonesia)
Episode: "Give Me the Strength, Give Me the Strength" (23 November 2006) Prize: A Sony High-Definition Handycam for each team member (awarded to Howard & Sahran) Eliminated: Aubrey & Jacqueline
Locations Jakarta (Merdeka Square – MONAS (National Monument)) Jakarta (Soekarno–Hatta International Airport) → Denpasar, Bali (Ngurah Rai International Airport) Kuta (Kuta Beach) Kuta (Poppies Lane 2 – Internet Outpost Travellers Lounge) Ubud (Ubud Monkey Forest) Ubud (Bali Adventure Rafting Elephant Safari Park) Uluwatu (Uluwatu Surfing Beach) Tabanan (Tanah Lot Temple)
Episode summary At the start of the leg, teams were instructed to fly to the island of Bali. Once there, they had to travel to Kuta Beach for their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dig in a marked area of sand around Kuta Beach for a souvenir, a small wooden surfboard, hidden up to beneath the sand to receive their next clue. After completing the Roadblock, teams had to travel to Internet Outpost Travellers Lounge where they had to log in to their MSN account at the internet cafe's computers and search the website for the words "Amazing Race Asia" to reveal their next clue on screen, which they may print out or receive from an attendant, directing them to Ubud Monkey Forest where they would grab their next clue.