Young Stockinger revving up for 2014 series

MANILA, Philippines - Marlon Stockinger has no plans of slowing down as he pursues his dream of becoming the first Filipino F1 driver.

The 22-year-old Stockinger is currently one of seven junior drivers in the Lotus F1 Team and he enjoyed a good rookie season last year.

He burned rubber in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series of 2013, competing in a total of 17 races in Spain, Italy, Monaco, Hungary, France and Switzerland.

“It wasn’t such a great start of the season that went up and down. But I was able to finish strong,” said Stockinger, who finished in the top 10 six times in his last 10 races.

It’s something to work on and look forward to as he prepares for the 2014 Series beginning in April.

“We showed good form this season. It was a very good learning experience and I think the team was happy how we finished in the end,” he said yesterday.

Stockinger faced the media at the Hard Rock Café in Makati, and was joined by his father, Swiss businessman Tom Stockinger, and his gracious mother, Filipina Egin San Pedro.

The good-looking driver gladly fielded questions from how he stays fit and stays away from distractions to his long-term goals. He was even asked if he was still single.

Stockinger is married to formula racing.

“I feel very privileged to be in this position to really pursue your dream. I feel very blessed making people proud of what I do. I’m content but obviously I want more.

“But the real aim is to raise more awareness about the sport. And we’re not too far in having a Filipino F1 driver. Whether it’s me or someone else as long as the sticker is that of the Philippine flag,” he said.

The elder Stockinger also talked about the awareness of the F1 in the Philippines, and said it’s there and only needs to be nurtured.

“They are aware of it because they see it on TV and the Internet. Even taxi drivers and tricycle drivers here know who Michael Schumacher is,” he said.

“We don’t have to promote the sport because F1 promotes itself. What we need to promote is the possibility of having a Filipino F1 driver. Then it promotes the country as well.”

The father said it’s both “difficult and expensive” to provide a solid program for the sport in the country and it can only be done with the help of the private sector and even the government.

“If you leave it up to just two guys then it will not grow. You need more drivers racing in different categories,” he said, adding that Lotus bringing in an F1 car and having his son drive it on the streets of Manila last year provided an impact.

Stockinger said he’s in the best shape of his young life and that even during the holidays he was running 10 kilometers on any day aside from lifting weights.

He also hopes to provide the sport the needed push in the country because it’s not like basketball or football where “you can pick up the ball and try it.”

But the awareness is there, he insists. On his Facebook page, his following has grown from just 200 a couple of years ago to around 100,000.

“In terms of number it’s not by any means small. I really feel privileged to be in this position. And I’m very focused on that. I eat, sleep, breath and sleep racing. Nothing will stop me,” said Stockinger.

He’s just getting started.