MANILA, Philippines - Upcoming sensation Estefano Rivera of PCR-Tough Gear Racing achieved his biggest break yet as a rookie karter when he earned the slot as the Philippine official representative to the Federation Internationale de Automobile (FIA) World Training Pool for Young Karters Oct. 1-11.
The event is a thrust program of the FIA, the world governing body for motorsports which sent a memorandum to all affiliate nations to select one junior karter aged 12-16 who’s deserving to avail of the grant administered by the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety from the FIA Motor Sport Safety Development fund.
Rivera, 12, emerged the unanimous choice of the local governing Automobile Association of the Philippines after showing his exceptional raw talent that installed him as the leading contender for the coveted Rookie of the Year plum. He is second placer in the Formula SL Novice class only on his maiden year of active competition.
Providing him the technical support is PCR-Tough Gear Racing team manager and head coach Edgen Dy-Liacco.
“This is indeed a big blessing and I’m grateful to the AAP for its continuous guidance and for believing in my talent as a young karter,” said Rivera. “I know this is a rare opportunity for a Filipino driver to be invited to such a prestigious racing clinic. AAP was saying that I was the first Pinoy in several years to avail of such a grant and I’ll do my best to prove worthy of AAP’s trust,” he added.
The FASC or the Federation of Automobile Sports of the People’s Republic of China organizes the Young Karting Driver Safety Training Program for young karting drivers aged 12-16 under the instruction of Commission Internationale du Karting (CIK) or the world karting federation.
The program will start in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province where nominees from each country will undergo the training under CIK/FIA International Steward Jaakko Markul.