Lotus F1 Team brings F1 to the Philippines

For the first time in history, Philippine Lotus F1 Junior Team driver Marlon Stockinger hit the streets of Manila to showcase Formula One in front of his home crowd. Over the weekend Marlon drove the R30 around the Mall of Asia, completing donuts and hot laps to the delight of the thousands of supporters and fans who turned out to see him and the Lotus F1 Team despite the 37 degree heat.

Third Driver Davide Valsecchi also took to the streets in the double seater F1 car, giving passengers the experience of a lifetime as he took the car through its paces, and Team Principal Eric Boullier was also in attendance to show the team’s support for Marlon’s weekend.

Starting at Kilometre Zero (the iconic starting point of all events within the Philippine capital) Marlon and the team allowed fans to get up close and personal to Formula One as crowds came running as the sound of the Lotus F1 Team car resonated around the buildings.

We sat down with Marlon to see how his weekend has been…

Marlon, talk us through why we’re here and what we’re up to…

This whole roadshow is to raise awareness in the Philippines about Formula One, about Lotus F1 Team and hopefully also about me! I am a young Philippine driver trying to make my way up to the top level of motorsport. To be able to let people get close to the action really is something special, as Formula One is not something everyone can go and experience. People see it on TV, but will not always have the opportunity to get very close to a Formula One car, or hear the sound for real, so really we wanted to give people the chance to witness it themselves.

What’s the significance for you, as a Philippine, to be able to do an event like this in your home country, particularly a country that doesn’t have Formula One on its doorstep?

To be here and to drive a Formula One car on the streets of Manila is definitely a historic moment. It’s actually the first time ever that a Formula One car has been driven in the Philippines and it’s really cool to be able to bring it here. I’m incredibly honoured that Lotus F1 Team trusted me with their car and allowed me to drive it around the streets here.

The supporters and the fans have all been amazing, and it’s been an unbelievable experience so far.

What’s your goal now? You’re driving under the Lotus F1 Junior team, racing in WSR 3.5, what are the next steps and what is the significance of being linked with a successful Formula One team?

Being a part of the Lotus F1 Junior team is an important step in my career. To be affiliated with a Formula One team, and not only that, but a front-running Formula One team who have a good history of winning World Championships, is great to have that support. It can only benefit my career, as you receive all the media and physical training that current F1 drivers receive. So to be in the same boat, so to speak, is a fantastic opportunity and I’ll try my best to make everyone proud.

If you could round up the whole event and experience for us in a short sentence; what would you say?

I’d say honestly I’m quite speechless. I never in my life would have expected to be able to drive a Formula One car here, only literally ten minutes down the road from where I grew up. If I had said it to myself when I was a young boy that I’d be able to do that, I’m not sure I would ever have believed it, so to sum it up; it’s a dream come true.

Source: www.lotusf1team.com