Stockinger ready for F1, takes third in Renault series

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-Swiss Marlon Stockinger of Lotus F1 team put on a strong third place finish in the Nurburgring leg of the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 series in Germany over the weekend then said he’s ready for a dream Formula 1 stint. 

“I’m ready to land an F1 seat,” said the 23-year-old Stockinger in yesterday’s media briefing at Mesa in Quezon City.

Stockinger, whose campaign is sponsored by Globe Telecom, finished next to Lotus F1 teammate Matthie Vaxiviere and eventual winner Roberto Merhiof of Zeta Corse team.

“The race brought me up to eighth place in the overall standings and I’m happy to have scored really good points. I hope to keep the momentum as we move on to the next tracks,” he added.

Stockinger’s effort at Nurburging, the sixth of the Formula Renault 3.5 series, came after a solid second place finish in the series kickoff in Monza, Italy.

“I was more thrilled to start the season with such a high spirit and with the Phl flag zooming around the track,” said Stockinger, set to become the first Filipino to compete in the elite F1 race.

Stockinger will compete in the next round in Hungaroring set Sept. 13-14 in Budapest, Hungary, which will serve as the seventh of the nine tracks that form the Renault’s World Series where he hopes to do equally well.

Globe Telecom, the exclusive business partner of the Lotus F1 team in the country and telecommunication partner of Stockinger, has reiterated its all-out support for his dream F1 bid.

“Globe has been supporting Marlon Stockinger, who has been making the country proud with his exploits abroad,” said Globe’s Jocel de Guzman.

Stockinger is back at home to do a series of events, including a speed show dubbed as “Slipstream” on Aug. 30 at the Bonifacio Global City where he will drive his Lotus-Gravity Charouz Formula Renault 3.5 car around the area in Taguig City.

It will also feature Lotus F1 simulators, booths, freebies, games and concerts in the one-day festivity put up by Globe Telecom.