Fil-Brit Ben Grimes making mark in international racing

MANILA, Philippines — In recent years, Filipino athletes have reaped accolades in the competitive global arena. 

Topping the list, of course, is globally renowned eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

Inspired perhaps by his oft-heralded legacy, other athletes have been gaining headway as well in their respective fields, including weightlifting, ice skating, fencing and even motor racing.

Up and coming Fil-Brit racing driver Benjamin “Ben” Grimes has been causing quite a stir in the Asian single seaters circuit, where he holds the distinction of being the first-ever Filipino driver to compete in the Formula Masters Asian Series (FMAS), which is considered as Asia’s premier formula car championship competition.

Born to a British dad and a Filipina mom, Ben is the eldest of four siblings. He graduated from Brent International School in 2016.

Despite having been accepted in some UK colleges, Ben has been weighing his options, and plans to take up Business Management, with Sports Management or Sports/Exercise Science as a possible contingency measure.

Ben’s dad Peter Grimes, himself a racing enthusiast, recalls his son’s apparent affinity for cars, even as a young infant.

He says, “When Ben was a baby, the only way we could put him to sleep was to throw him in the back of the car and drive around the block.”

There must’ve been something in the steady hum of the engine that imprinted itself on Ben’s subconscious, only to reawaken years later as a reminder of his birthright and higher calling.

His interest in the sport began after watching a go-kart race at Carmona when he was 11. After learning the ropes doing fun karting at City Kart, the 13-year-old Ben (who had moved to Thailand by then) made his karting debut at the Thailand National Karting Championship in the KF3 class, where he would go on to secure a couple of podiums that same year.

The following season, Ben arrived on the international scene, finishing on the podium in an Asia Rotax Max Challenge race, and after winning in the Thailand Rotax Junior Championship, he represented that country at the world’s largest karting event, the 2013 Rotax Grand Finals in New Orleans.

Ben leveled up to the Senior Class in 2014, following his successes in the Junior Category over the previous two years, where he had a couple of strong finishes in the Asian Max Challenge whilst also finishing vice-champion of the Thailand Rotax Senior Championship.

In 2016, made the transition from karts to saloon cars, taking a more unconventional path compared to most karting graduates due to budget constraints, and competed in the Toyota Vios Cup with AUTS racing. Unfortunately, Ben’s season was hindered by poor luck, where mechanical issues in a few races cost him strong finishes. Despite these, he score two podium finishes in eight races.

This year, the 18-year-old made the switch back to the more traditional route for karting graduates, moving into single-seater formula cars. Following an impressive showing at a three-day pre-season Formula Masters test with Pinnacle Motorsports, a deal was signed with the team. 

Ben completed a successful weekend at the first round of the 2017 Formula Masters Asian Series, where despite being the most inexperienced driver on the grid, the Fil-Brit race driver finished in the top half of the 15-car field in every race, including an impressive top-five finish in his first race.

Most recently, Ben competed in the third round of the Formula Masters Series last June 16-18 at China’s Zhuhai International Circuit. Ben put up an impressively display, placing second out of a strong 15-car grid in both of the practice sessions in dry conditions. The weather took a turn for the worst as the race weekend dawned, where monsoon rains had struck Zhuhai and would continue through until the closure of the weekend. Ben drove very impressively in the wet conditions considering prior to the weekend he had not driven more than 10 laps in the rain in these cars before. He claimed two 7th place finishes and a 5th place finish, and was unlucky to have missed out on the podium.

Proud of his Pinoy roots, Ben plans to plant the Philippine flag firmly in the international racing scene. 

He says, “I’m very committed. I want to get as high up the racing ladder as I can. I train four-five times a week. I watch racing every day. I watch as much motorsport as I can, but I follow Formula One the closest. I have a simulator at home which I train on frequently and I’m also in constantly in communication with my racing coaches trying to find ways to better myself before each race.

“My goal for this year is to garner as much experience as I can, improve at each race and learn the tracks as well as I can. Hopefully through constant improvement at each race I’ll be able to pick up a few podiums here and there and get the Philippines flag up onto the podium. Longer-term I’m using this year to prepare myself to attempt to win next year’s championship.”

Despite the accolades reaped by other local racers such as Marlon Stockinger, Michele Bumgarner and Gaby dela Merced, Ben is dead-set on making local racing history as he carves his own niche in international single seater series.

Though racing remains top priority, Ben is open to other opportunities. Together with other accomplished young athletes, he is being considered one of the trendsetters of his millennial generation.

He recently joined ALV Talent Circuit, which handles the careers of some of the country’s top singers and celebrities, and which also handles the careers of bemedaled athletes such as Manny Pacquiao, MMA fighter Mark Striegl, pro golfer Jayvee Agojo, swimmer Alfonso Bautista and fencing champion Maxine Esteban.