A Filipino in F1?

If Formula One’s 2004 calendar is any indication, then Asia is motorsports’ hot item, racing’s the place to be, the season’s new black, so to fashionista speak. That’s because two Asian countries — Bahrain and China — will take the spots vacated by two venues that were staples in the F1 calendar. One is Montreal in Canada, where the races are held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and named after the F1 star and late father of ’97 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve. The other is Spielberg in Austria. That’s right, there will be no Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix next F1 season.

With the addition of Shanghai in China and Bahrain in 2004, it brings to four the total of Asian venues, Suzuka, Japan and Sepang, Malaysia being the other two. Compare that with just one North American venue, the US GP in Indianapolis, and also one South American, the Brazil GP. Australia hosts one as well, the season’s opening race, while the rest are scattered across European cities.

Asia is currently in the F1 spotlight all right. So it’s the chance for Asian F1 hopefuls to shine, or at the very least, get noticed in a very crowded paddock. And since three of these Asian venues are right in our neighborhood, it may bring the Filipino F1 dream a wee bit closer to reality.

Admitedly, however, it’s a bit inconceivable that any in the current generation of drivers on the local racing grid will land an F1 seat anytime soon. But developing new talents may finally result in having a Filipino — or at least somebody who competes carrying the Philippine flag — get an F1 drive. And as anybody who can spell Raikkonen knows, we gotta start these Pinoy hopefuls young — and start ’em in karting. In that case then, the Philippine Karting Team is definitely on the right racetrack.

The local karting team is presently dominated by young stars who have made their distinctive tiremarks in the Cadet, Junior and Open classes. Competing primarily in the Shell Karting Series held on racetracks in Carmona, Batangas and Cebu, these racers are proving their mettle in regional podiums as well.

Fact is, these kids are dominating the prestigious Asian Karting Open Championships (AKOC), where top drivers in the region are competing in. Last year, the team practically swept the series, a feat they’re duplicating this year. And just who exactly are these wunderkids? Here’s a brief list of the best of them.

Marty Aguilar

A Taekwondo black-belter at the ripe old age of seven, Marty is a true sportskid who has risen to the top of his class in kart racing. A son of car guy and occassional racer Michael Aguilar, Marty is seen to include in his expansive model car collection a real, full-rollcaged, loudly-painted race car.

Mark Bumgarner

>Racing karts since the age of five — something he shares with the Schumacher brothers — observers point out the kid is getting better and faster the more time he spends behind the kart’s steering wheel.

And he has the trophies to prove them right, too. Mark was a strong runner-up in the local 85cc Cadet class and in the 2002 AKOC.

Matteo Guidicelli

Filipino-Italian Matteo started karting at a relatively mature age of 11, but at 12, the boy has won the national championship in the Cadet class and finished first runner-up in the Junior ICA class in last year’s AKOC.

Matteo has won several of the 40-plus national and international races he joined, and has also competed in over 30 events in Italy against top European drivers.

Tyson Sy

Also racing for quite a few years only, Tyson nonetheless has won more races than other drivers did in their whole career. He aced the Shell Karting Series’ Open class, and is currently competing in the international Formula BMW series. Not bad for somebody who’s all of 15 years old.

Michelle Bumgarner

Perhaps the mot accomplished racer in the grid, Michelle, at 13, has won virtually every race in the local circuit and was the Junior Karter of the Year in 2002. She is also Junior ICA class champ in the 2002 AKOC, something she is repeating this year. Oh, and she definitely has her sights on F1.

Not to be outdone, other members of the local karting team have also made their marks at such young ages. Kids like Marlon Stockinger, Buffy Laurel and Kevin Katzer are all seen by observers as serious racers with serious prospects in their racing future.

Guess it’s really up to the kids to ensure the country’s place in the F1 grid.