Matteo relives his car-racing days

MANILA, Philippines - If there’s one actor who knows what life is like in the fast lane, it will be Matteo Guidicelli. He was a champion kart racer, whose first foray into showbiz was Initial D: Fourth Stage on Animax. Remember? 

“(It was) more than 12 years ago,” recalled Matteo, who lent his voice to the lead character Takumi Fujiwara, in a group interview with print media after he unveiled the life-size Lightning McQueen model for Cars 3. The Disney/Pixar movie will hit theaters on July 26.

“Hindi pa ako marunong mag-Tagalog nun. Sobrang hirap.” He added that his memories of cars came back when the opportunity to grace the SM-Disney event was offered to him. A special screening followed the launch.

Fast forward to today, Matteo has shown his mettle in acting, hosting and singing. He is also into product endorsing. Matteo, who dabbles in motor biking, is the perfect face for the upcoming animation.

“The movie is really cool,” he said. “I did not expect it to be that awesome. It has so much lessons you can really take home...  There is so much meaning inside the movie.

“There’s a lot of women empowerment in the movie. There’s a lot of believing in yourself and just keep working at it until one day, your time will come... I enjoyed this one. There’s a new character which is really cool. (After watching it,) I became more of a fan of it. It’s really fun.”

Matteo couldn’t help but get nostalgic over Cars 3, reminding him of his professional racing days.

“Watching films like this makes me relive my racing memories,” he shared. “I don’t really miss it so much. But I still love it.

“(It seems that) I opened a new chapter in my life,” he added. “But I have a car show by The Philippine STAR. It is called Wheels. We air that online. That’s close to my heart because it is still part of racing. We go around and we feature different cars and anything on wheels.”

All right, Matteo has left the racetrack, but he doesn’t totally abandon his interest in cars. As you and I know, Matteo has also tried his hand at other sports.

“It’s different,” Matteo said. “In (racing) cars, meron tayong makina. Sa triathlon, sarili lang natin. Katawan natin. Many things are the same (like) the dedication, the passion (you put in them)… Riding in a car on the racetrack is the best. Nothing can describe that. (Being) in a race, it’s just an unexplainable feeling and experience. I still remember those days; you can’t compare it to anything else.”

Given his sports background, Matteo is used to giving his 100-percent in everything he does. So his work loves him back. An upcoming movie and a sophomore album are in the pipeline.

“I have a film coming up with Kim Chiu. It’s called Ghost Bride, directed by Chito Roño. It is a horror film by Star Cinema,” he said. “We’re (also) writing my second album. It is an all-OPM music, all original. Top Suzara is writing. It’s ’90s alternative rock.”

For his recording outing, Matteo collaborates with Pinoy songwriters and musicians and wants “everything organic and (with) band instruments.” The guy is simply paying tribute to the music era that he loves. This is the musical treat Matteo’s album promises everyone.

What’s the secret to a happy personal and professional life?

“It’s balancing everything,” he answered. “I think it’s the most important thing. Balance talaga.”

Asked if he and his girlfriend Sarah Geronimo talk about bringing their relationship to the next level, Matteo said, “Siyempre naman. We think about that. But time will come I guess. We should not rush everything. Everybody has their goals. Everybody has their life dreams. I also do. In time. In time.”

Since he is a fan of Sarah and John Lloyd Cruz loveteam, Matteo said he will watch Finally Found Someone which shares the same playdate with Cars 3. 

With the animation’s theme of “passing over the knowledge to the student,” as Matteo put it, the actor welcomes the idea of coaching young car racers in the future. “It would be cool,” he concluded.

(Directed by Brian Fee, Cars 3 stars Owen Wilson as the voice of Lightning McQueen; Cristela Alonzo, the tech-savvy trainer Cruz Ramirez; and Armie Hammer, next-gen racer Jackson Storm.)