In fact, the very first time Gaby raced, she bagged an award for best driving style. Amazing? Well, believe it or not, she only learned how to do a 360-degree turn hours before the competition itself and handled a car for the very first time on that very first day, too. Sheer beginner’s luck? Not at all.
After this feat, Gaby continued winning race after race; award after award. She became the overall ladies class champion at last year’s Shell Slalom Series 2001, and bagged the third overall champion award at the "Run What You Bring" Petron Grand Prix. And it doesn’t stop there. Gaby was also first overall champion for the TP Turbo Autocross Challenge. Gaby’s last race was January this year where she again won first place in the ladies division. She has traveled to places like Bacoor, Imus, Subic, Antipolo, and Cabanatuan to race. This bedimpled beauty indeed possesses the skill and talent for the sport.
But there are other facets to be explored in Gaby’s world. Would you believe that this young lady is into visual arts as well? She is equally adept with the steering wheel as she is with the paint brush. Truly, Gaby’s interests and talents blend freely and ingeniously (though sometimes paradoxically) within her. Back in high school, Gaby even won a post as the student council president.
And how very admirable it is to see that all these achievements have not gotten into Gaby’s head. Her candor and unassuming demeanor reflect how humble this young lady is.
Excerpts from Young Star’s interview.
Young STAR: How were you introduced to the sport?
Gaby Dela Merced: My dad used to race a long, long time ago  kasama pa ang mga Silverios. Ironically, I have two older brothers and they’re not into cars. I was the only one who got interested in them. Usually, you know, I liked boy stuff. I was a little girl who played with my Barbie dolls on one hand and Ninja Turtles on the other. I’ve always been tough. Hindi naman pwede when I was younger lalapit ako sa brothers ko and say "Kuya, kuya, tea party tayo, Barbie tayo!" They’d be like "Tara, wrestling tayo!" There was one time when everyone was into video games. I took an interest in racing, particularly, ever since. Yung mga racing games sa computer, sobrang nahilig ako dun. Then I liked cars, was really interested in them but I never knew what to do. I’ve been wanting to race since first year high school.
That long?
I had been telling them, I wanna race. Never nila ako pinayagan. Then one day, my dad let me join this Porsche road show clinic. Surprisingly, I won an award for Best Driving Style. On my eighteenth birthday, my dad bought me a car  a really beat up Toyota Starlet. He said, "If you wanna race, race slalom. There, you won’t be raising against anyone else. You’ll be racing against time." So I started off there. After a while, I met some people who helped me out and I ventured into circuit din, then this year, hopefully, I’ll be getting into drag also.
A little explanation, please.
Slalom is more about precision driving. It’s constricted. The course is like a parking lot  the smaller, the better. You just make a track within the lot using pylons or cones. One car at a time can be accommodated. Hindi pwede sabay sabay. When you hit a pylon, cone pala (giggles), you’re given a two-second penalty. The highlight siguro of the track is that there’s a 360-degree and a 180-degree turn. Basically, you race against time. There are different categories like front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. And you can construct a slalom course anywhere. Now, circuit is exactly like Formula 1 except that participants here use production cars. There are only two tracks in the Philippines  one in Subic, and the other in Batangas. Then, there’s drag. Drag is the easiest one to follow. It’s the one you see in the streets.
Yes, that seems to be what people remember when they hear of drag.
That’s the bad thing about how people see racing now. When they hear about racing, they associate it right away with drag on the streets. Drag racing in the streets like Libis is bad and illegal. Drag racing happens on a straight course and participants race to the finish line. There are no turns or curves  just a straight course. Legal drag racing is organized by PDRF and another organization, whose name escapes me now.
So there is just slalom, circuit and drag?
There’s rally and rally cross, which I want to get into but it’s too expensive. That’s on dirt naman. Basically, it’s slalom or circuit but on dirt. In rally, you have to have a navigator because the course is big.
To simplify, slalom is on a small course using precision driving and involves just one driver only. Circuit is the stuff you see on TV. Drag is just going straight. Rally is a long route of circuit and slalom.
What are you into?
I’ve been doing slalom for more than a year now. I got into circuit a few months ago. But I’m really getting into it this year. Hopefully, if I can get a car then I’m getting into drag this year, too.
We heard you also paint.
I use acrylic, but I want to get into oil. Maganda ang oil, but it’s expensive. But, of course, it depends on the paints, too. When I was younger I’d put oil into tubes of watercolor paint, thinking that would be oil painting. I was so happy kasi maganda yung gawa ko. Then I’d get upset pag nakita ko ng sira yung gawa ko.
Are your older brothers intimidated by your racing?
They’re not at all interested in racing or cars. They’ve never seen me race (laughs). They have no idea how well or bad I do. No, my dad goes with me. As much as possible, he’s always there. If he isn’t, it’s my mom who’s with me. Sobrang thankful ako sa father ko.
You’re very lucky to have supportive parents. But were they really all for you racing before?
My mom only got to watch me recently. She’s a typical mom, and gave me the reaction that any mom would have when I was convincing her that I wanted to race. It took me about four years to really convince my parents. And they just joined me into this Porsche road show. When I won, my dad said, "O sige, I’ll get you a car, then hati kami ng friend nya, si Alfred Guerrero. Hindi naman pinayagan si Alfred kumarera so yun, lucky me. I had the car all to myself.
You won in your first race. That was really something.
May story pa nga yan. Danny Santiago  people call him Slalom King because he has been dominating the sport for five years now  accompanied me for my first test. A new driver has to be tested with and accompanied by a professional. Walang upuan sa gilid ng driver’s seat. The battery was beside me, super kawawa siya. Naka-shorts pa naman siya nun, sugat-sugat na siya from the battery. Eventually, he became my teammate.
People think race car drivers tend to be hell drivers. Do you agree with this?
Hmm, it all depends on the person naman, race car driver or not. It all depends on the personality of the driver and his discipline on the road. Me, personally, I’ve never done anything illegal  especially when it comes to cars, driving and that sort. Like yung mga drag racing in Libis mga ganon. Honestly, I’ve never even been to one. Hard to believe but true.
So you’re not in favor of it.
Somehow, nayayabangan ako sa kanila e. Parang utak kotse kasi eh, eh may buhay naman ako. Once you meet people in the industry, in this circle, they’re not like that. Don’t believe all the hype that other people say or make. And if I race illegally and am caught, I won’t be allowed to race anymore.
How do you drive?
I’ve toned down. I used to be reckless before, but now I’m very safe. I realized kasi that I wasn’t a really responsible driver. After that, I took it upon myself na mag-tone down. I’ve never gotten into any accident on the road  minor or major. I got my student’s permit when I was 16, I’ve never gotten into any accident on the streets. Before, I was the type of person who’d get insulted if may space between my car and the car in front of me. I was like that before, pero ngayon hindi na. Hindi na talaga.
Where do you study?
Philippine School for Interior Design (PSID).
Does racing affect your studies?
No. Not at all.
Haven’t you gotten into any accident in racing?
Well, I’ve gotten into pretty big accidents. But I believe racing is basically safe. All the official races here have to be approved by the FIA. They use the same ruling they use with Formula1. I know of a guy who got into an accident and overshot the tire walls in a circuit. He went over the wall and the car turned turtle and hit a wall. You know what happened to him? He got a busted lip. That was all!
Have you ever competed abroad?
No, but I’d love to. I was offered to, but the problem was budget. That was Formula 3.
Do you have any vices?
Basically, my vices are my hobbies lang siguro. All of us play Pokemon! There is one big group of us, me being the youngest. Actually, aside from my friends in racing, I have a whole different life din. Same with them. It’s not like my life is about racing. Two of my friends I hang out most of the time with are billiards addicts. And then my group and my brother’s merged and all of us play Pokemon. Can you imagine like six-foot-tall guys playing Pokemon?
What do you get out of it?
I know it’s really kiddie stuff, but hey, it keeps us away from drugs and stuff. It’s fun. I love adventure, I do Korean martial arts, bike, motorcycle.
What have you done so far?
I’ve done bungee jumping. Nakatalon na din ako from the fifth floor of a building! Just kidding! I used to rappel. Of course, I paint. I’m also a frustrated musician. I sleep a lot, and eat a lot, too. I run errands, go to Guadalupe, I manage a Mister Donut outlet there, basically.
Can you tell me about your racing gear?
It depends. In slalom, they’re not too strict about FIA approval. Actually, pwede ka nga pants and shirt lang, basta may helmet. And good shoes, not necessarily racing shoes. But in circuit, kailangan talaga fire-resistant lahat. You need a mask, racing gloves and racing shoes.
Isn’t it hot with all that gear on?
It is hot! Seryoso talaga, sauna! And when we race circuit, the windows are closed. You can’t roll them down. Maliit lang yung hole na pinapasukan ng hangin, sa tabi ko. It’s suffocating, but it gets you high. There’s no time to be scared with your adrenaline rush. I don’t know, I’ve always liked speed. When I was young I was really scared of it, but eventually, I was just facing my fear. I like facing my fears kasi. Then I came to love them. Labo, ’no?
How many women do you know now who race like you?
In slalom, sobrang bilang kami. When I got in, there were two others, Bubot and Bebot. Well, they both stopped. In the middle ng year, ako na lang natira. No one really followed for the rest of the races for the whole year except me. And then biglang sumali na din yung anak ni Danny Santiago, Sam. He bought her a car na din and now she’s racing, also.
What can you say about guys who think girls can’t race?
Chauvinistic bastards (laughs)! I have to admit, sometimes it’s frustrating. I’ve heard side comments saying masama oras ko or something. Like when I get off from a car "Ah, babae lang pala kumakarera, okay na pala time nya, babae eh!" You know they’ve accepted na kasi babae magaling ka na dun lang. They think that you’ll never be an equal. Nakakairita, but it’s something you have to go through especially with the double standard in our society. But people who race don’t do that. I guess it’s not every day that they see a woman racer trying to really get into the field. It becomes a novelty, I don’t know if it’s good or bad, though.
How do the guys react when they see you racing?
Usually, from my experience, they get intimidated when they see a girl racing. Seeing a girl who drives draws attention already. Some take it well; some don’t. Some are insulted. I don’t do drag, but I know some women who do. Sometimes, when they win, sobrang nagagalit and nagta-tantrums yung men.
Five or 10 years down the road, do you still see yourself racing?
I see myself having dominion over the Philippines (laughs). It’s than a hobby. A hobby is what you’re into it now, but you could live without it. Something like that  a pastime. This is more than a pastime. I’m really serious and I want to get into the international circuit. If I still have my arms and legs, of course, I’d still be racing.
What does it take to be an award-winning race car driver?
I have no idea. It takes a crazy mind, maybe being psychotic helps (laughs). Basically, if you have to be really focused on it  just like in any other sport like basketball, tennis and volleyball. There has to be dedication. You have to practice. The problem in racing is there aren’t a lot of venues for practicing. So we arrive early morning before the race so we can practice. Before they set up the tracks, we can practice before everyone gets there.
What advice can you give for those who want to get into what racing?
Well, if you really want to get into racing, there’s always a way. Think positive, although it’s scary because this is a whole new world. When I started, I didn’t know anybody and had never seen slalom. I just tried it, I fell in love with the sport and I’m continuing it right now. You don’t really need a fast car, if it’s not drag. In slalom and circuit, it takes skill and proper training. And remember that those illegal races will not really help.