Pinoy makes waves on, off track

The country’s top bet to break into the Formula One circuit gained a lot of attention – on and off track – during the festivities surrounding the Grand Prix’ first-ever night race in Singapore last weekend.

Marlon Stockinger, 17, competed in two Formula BMW Pacific events and drew raves from the cognoscenti in the luxury suites overlooking the Marina Bay street circuit. Although he spun out and failed to finish in his first race last Saturday, Stockinger was lauded by experts for insisting to drive despite a severe bout of food poisoning. He went on to finish seventh of 17 in the chief support race for the Formula One event the next day.

What initially put Stockinger in the Singapore headlines was meeting Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela at the Marina Mandarin Hotel last Thursday. Mendoza was thrilled to pose for photos with the good-looking Stockinger, born in Manila to a Filipina mother Egin San Pedro of Parañaque and Swiss father Thomas of Zurich. Even as Stockinger stood a few inches shorter than the statuesque beauty queen, they made for a handsome couple.

“You’re the first race driver I’ve ever met,” remarked Mendoza giddily. Stockinger couldn’t believe his luck. Mendoza , 22, stands 5-9 – on her bare feet and with her high heels, Stockinger reached only up to her eye level.

The Formula BMW circuit is considered the world’s most competitive entry-level into big-time racing and was designed specifically to assist young karters, at least 15 years old, in the transition to single-seat driving. It uses the FB02 racing car, powered by a 140 horsepower BMW engine with a capacity of up to 230 kilometers per hour. The circuit is split into Formula BMW Europe, Americas and Pacific.

Stockinger, Australian Chris Wooton and South African Simon Moss were awarded Formula BMW Pacific scholarships this year, giving them the opportunity to race in the junior circuit, which has spawned the likes of Formula One drivers Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock, Adrian Sutil and Nico Rosberg. 

In Singapore, Stockinger also played the ambassador’s role for BMW by taking a delegation from the German gearbox manufacturing company Sachs to a tour of the Formula BMW pit garage. As a BMW scholar, he explained the details of the speed machines to the visitors.

Stockinger, battling dehydration, came out to race last Saturday and threw caution to the wind. While defending his line against Colombia’s Gabriel Chaves, Stockinger spun out into the barriers and failed to finish the race. Four others exited early.

Romanian Doru Sechelariu, 15, won convincingly and led from start to flag. England’s Ollie Millroy came in second and Hong Kong’s Ross Jamison, third. Other entries came from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Korea, United Arab Emirates, Japan, India, Colombia and South Africa.

Last Sunday, Stockinger was determined to race and finish despite a bum stomach. He started ninth and wound up seventh with a time of 24.56.723.  Sechelariu clocked 24.32.563 to win the leg.

A report from Singapore described Stockinger’s gutsy showing as “a particularly special feat as the Fil-Swiss driver continued to battle a bout of food poisoning – to him, even just racing was an achievement.”

Stockinger was quoted as saying, “I was tired from the get-go but towards the end, it was hard to even hold the steering wheel and I was just happy to finish and really pleased to be in seventh.” Stockinger was reportedly rehydrated in his hotel the day before.

Only 15 drivers have so far scored points in the leader board of the Formula BMW Pacific circuit. Jamison tops the standings with 192 points. Stockinger, who has registered one podium finish and is second to Moss in the Rookie Cup ladder, ranks eighth with 67 points.

In December, the Formula BMW drivers from the three divisions of Europe, Americas and Pacific will converge in a one-off battle for the world championship in Mexico City. The winner will be given the chance to be a test driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team whose mainstays are Nick Heidfeld of Germany and Robert Kubica of Poland.