Fil-Am ace poised for Indy Car breakthrough

MANILA, Philippines — The emerging global athlete is Filipino. From the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jordan Clarkson to the recent Winter Olympics skier Asa Miller, from pro boxing, to national teams in track and field, soccer and rugby, Filipinos born and raised overseas have risen to prominence in their respective sports. But while each of those sports has a handful of attention-grabbing new Filipino-foreign stars with world-beating potential, in car racing, there is only one: Neil Alberico.

Alberico’s mother, Nora Panganiban, was at the forefront of the first wave of Filipina nurses who blazed a trail to the US three decades ago. At an early age, Neil showed his passion for anything with wheels, from motorcycles to cars. Whereas most children would be afraid of the noise and risk, Neil embraced it.

“Maybe as a child I wasn’t all there,” the 25-year old laughs. “No, racing just came so naturally to me – it was never something I was afraid of. I believe I was very blessed to discover my God-given talent at a very young age, and thanks to my parents I was given the opportunity to develop that talent into the person I am today. This sport has taught me so much more than becoming a good driver.”

Unlike in most sports where an athlete’s salary and all expenses are paid for by corporate sponsors or owners, in car racing, you have to find funding with your team while simultaneously building your name. For the past few years, that is exactly what Neil has been doing with Rising Star Racing, traveling all over the US and even his motherland the Philippines to support his passion. It has been very challenging, but all the work outside of the racing itself has broadened Neil’s perspective toward his craft. And it fuels his ultimate dream: to be behind the wheel of an Indy Car machine.

“On top of being a professional athlete, I’ve had to learn how to be a business person as well,” he elaborates. “Without the latter, the other does not exist. I am extremely blessed to have mentors like my Mom, Dad and Art Wilmes of Rising Star Racing among many others, helping me pursue my passion.”

Luckily for the young Fil-American, he has the unwavering support of his management team, Rising Star Racing (RSR).

”RSR only works with drivers in need of money. It is part of our need meets talent approach,” explains Art Wilmes, founder and CEO of Rising Star Racing. ”Neil is no exception. The last four years have been particularly difficult for Neil. He has not had the funding to participate in off-season testing. The reality of racing is that most gains are made during the off-season testing program. Instead, Neil has not had the financial means to participate in a program, rather just having the means to only jump into a car generally at or just prior to the first race of the season. This is a difficult way to advance in auto racing. There is no doubt that Neil’s career is suffering by this lack of “seat-time”. Our focus for Neil is to generate the sponsorship necessary to continue a career with its best years still to come.”

This is where Alberico’s Filipino upbringing and personality become the RSR team’s secret weapon.

”I tell others that Neil’s personality seems to transcend the machine. Outside the car, Neil is the consummate Filipino. I marvel at how the Filipino blood in him comes through,” Wilmes continues. “He is truly a Filipino Warrior in the car. He is truly a cultural Filipino outside of the car. I believe the Tagalog word is bayanihan. He is just a giving and helpful person. That is a very unique trait in racing.”

On March 5, Team Pelfrey announced that Neil would drive the Number 2 Team Pelfrey Mazda at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida, the traditional Indy Lights season opener since 2009. This latest development pushes Alberico one step closer to Indy Car, where he will, as he has always been, be the first Filipino to make his mark on the highest level of racing.