Champ in UK misses local karting circuit

MANILA, Philippines - World karting veteran Franco Reyes is now enrolled at CATS College Cambridge, about an hour’s train ride from London, and after completing the two-year program next term, plans to take up university studies in Great Britain or the US. But despite his heavy academic load, the 17-year-old former Automobile Association of the Philippines awardee as International Junior Karter said recently he’ll make time to race at the Japan Rotax circuit in Suzuka during the summer break.

Reyes transferred from Ateneo high school to Cambridge last year and is the only Filipino among 300 foreign students. He scored high marks in the International English Literacy Test and was exempted from taking a course in English as a second language. There are 50 students in Reyes’ upper sixth form class. He will finish his A-level program next year preparatory to university.

“I miss karting,” said Reyes who has won at least four major championships since hitting the track eight years ago. “I’ve competed in several world karting championships in Italy and made the finals each time. I’m grateful to my parents (Mandy and Charrie Reyes) for their support and my brother (Diego) who inspires me to excel. At the moment, I’m torn about my future plans. I’d like to try open wheel racing but I don’t know how much time I’ll have with university coming up. At least, during the summer break next year, I can go to Suzuka and compete in the Rotax circuit.”

Reyes started racing with the J. P. Tuazon team then moved to Jet Racing with Javi Benitez before anchoring his father’s Industria Jet Racing squad the last four years. “I realize someday, I’ll give up racing and focus on my academics,” he said. “Several of my karting friends are now studying in the US like Javi, John Alvarez and Yuha Torralba. I thought of going to Cambridge after I attended a CATS College orientation at the Dusit Thani Hotel last year.”

Reyes, however, isn’t letting go of karting yet. When he visits home, Reyes attends races in Carmona and meets up with fellow racers. “I try to go home whenever there’s a break,” he said. “I’ll always love racing. It’s been a dream come true to race for our country at the world championships. Last year, I raced in the super ROK category, the highest level with a 125 cc engine, in Desenzano del Garda. I qualified for the finals but retired because of a flat tire.”

Reyes’ subjects at CATS College are math, physics and economics. Before moving to Cambridge, he took up short courses at Georgetown and University of Chicago to prepare for his transfer to the international school. He boards at the Varsity House on the Cambridge campus.

“I’ve taken my SATs to get ready for university,” he said. “My first score was 1650 and my second was 1850 in the re-test. I’m shooting to go over 2000. I’ve applied in five UK and 10 US universities so far. I plan to take up economics and eventually become a banker or financial analyst.”

Reyes said high in his wish list of universities to enter are the London School of Economics and the University of Chicago. “I know my dad will be disappointed when I stop racing but my mom, who always prays for my safety when I race, will be relieved,” he said. “I’m lucky that my parents and brother visit me every half-term so I stay close with my family.”

Reyes said even as he is now enrolled abroad, his loyalty to Ateneo remains strong. He still wears a blue Ateneo baller band with the words “Tao Para Sa Kapwa” and “Person For Others” inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola. “I keep track with what’s going on in Ateneo sports,” he said. “Of course, I feel bad we didn’t make it to the UAAP Final Four in senior men’s basketball this season but we’ll bounce back.”

Reyes, who won the Asian cadet title as an 11-year-old in Macau, said he’s excited to go to university. “I’ve sent out applications,” he said. “It’s a big challenge for me to study abroad and live alone. I owe a lot to racing for building my confidence. Who knows? Maybe, I can continue racing while studying. It will depend on my academic load which is my priority.”