MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Swiss ace driver Marlon Stockinger and the Lotus Formula One team he is representing in the Formula Renault World Series 2013 will treat Filipino motor racing fans to a new high next month.
A Formula One car will be flown in by the Lotus Team for the “Manila Speed Show†on May 3-5 at the streets of Manila and Pasay, with Stockinger having been designated as its official driver to showcase the power and speed of the car that is among the best in the current Formula One season.
To be held in cooperation with the cities of Manila and Pasay and other government agencies, the event will also feature Lotus Team principal Eric Bouillier and chief executive officer Patrick Louis who are giving Stockinger the needed boost in his bid to become the first Filipino driver to crash the highly competitive world of Formula One racing.
Stockinger, 21, was recently named by Lotus as one of its two drivers in its junior team for this year’s Formula Renault World Series, the other being Marco Sorensen of Denmark. The Renault World Series is widely considered as the stepping stone to Formula One.
“It’s a rare privilege for me and I can’t wait to take over the controls,†said Stockinger, who shone in various international races before he was signed up by Lotus this year, his biggest win coming last year when he ruled the Monaco leg of the Grand Prix 3 Series.
A gala night will be held on May 3 at the Manila Hotel where the Formula One car will be unveiled and revved-up in the presence of city officials and representatives of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry that are among the agencies backing the event.
The Formula One car will be displayed at the Mall of Asia on May 4-5, giving racing fans the unique opportunity to see a Formula One car up close.
Stockinger will drive the car at the seaside boulevard of the Mall of Asia on May 5 in the presence of government officials and top brass of Globe Tattoo, which has signed up the charming and soft-spoken driver as one of its brand ambassadors.
Stockinger started out as a kart racing champion, graduated to one-seater cars and stamped his class in the Grand Prix 3 Series last year, coming up with one big win on top of two podium finishes.