Dubai

Marlon Stockinger is just one step away from becoming the first Filipino Formula One driver after confirming he will race in the GP2 Series this season, one division below motorsport’s summit.

The 23-year-old Filipino Swiss driver from Manila finished ninth in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with Lotus last season, building upon an 18th place finish the season before.

He is now confident of going one better in the GP2 Series, where he is set to be unveiled by MP Motorsport, having held post-season tests with the Dutch outfit at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit in November.

“I’d say I’m pretty close now,” Stockinger told Gulf News. “Getting a seat is pretty tough and I’ll have to do a few seasons in GP2 to really prove myself, but GP2 is the last step to F1, so it’s as close as I’ve ever been.

“Formula Renault is not too far off GP2 and not that much better in some aspects, in terms of lap times and performance. It follows the F1 calendar, but apart from that it’s not too different to Formula Renault, so, I think I can match up well with some of the more experienced drivers in GP2.”

Stockinger said his experience in Formula Renault, having progressed from GP3 in 2013, had set him up well. “Last season was really good, I was third after the first two rounds and then dropped off mid-season with some bad luck, really I think I could have finished top five if things had gone our way.

“The first year was definitely a learning curve and it’s quite clear that I still have a lot learn. Year two went a lot better but not entirely our own way, sometimes you need luck in racing.”

Ready to the big drive

The fact he’s already earned F1 tests and roadshow appearances, he says, proves he’ll be ready for any possible future call-up.

“It’s not very often that you get given the chance to sit in those cars. Having had that opportunity gives me an idea of what to expect in the future, if ever I get the opportunity.

“It shows they [Lotus] trust and believe in me, and I think I’ll definitely have the confidence to handle an F1 car if ever I get the chance.”

If he were to get into F1 with similar progression in GP2 this season, Stockinger, who has already become the first Filipino to win a race in Europe, said it would be another historic first for Filipino motorsport.

“To be the first Filipino F1 driver would be incredible and the country would really fall for racing and motorsport in general if that were to happen. It would provide a blueprint to the next generation of drivers and prove that the Philippines has the talent.”

Despite the F1 calendar’s shift east, with nearby Malaysia and Singapore both staging events since 1999 and 2008 respectively, the Philippines looks a long way off from getting its own Grand Prix, perhaps making Stockinger’s feat all the more commendable. But he believes that with a Filipino driver, the country’s case for an event would be a lot stronger, and a market of 90 million people with a rising middle class, could prove irresistible to investors.

While the shift east has opened new markets it hasn’t yet produced a plethora of Asian heroes, something Stockinger hopes to change. “Maybe getting an event on the calendar is a bit further down the line, it’s more important at this stage is to get a Filipino’s name on the car - whether it’s my name or someone else’s – that would be the best way to get people into the sport and the rest would follow.

Global appeal

“F1 is a global sport and it gets huge viewership. It would put the country on the map, and it wouldn’t only be a big thing for Philippines but for South East Asia in general.

“The Philippines has a booming middle class and there’s already a big interest in me on social media, which will only get bigger once we reach the top level. The Philippines is definitely ready for an F1 driver.”

Asked if there was pressure to succeed, Stockinger, who counts ski-accident-stricken seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher as his biggest inspiration, said: “I put more pressure on myself than anyone else ever could.

“No one is telling me I have to do it, it’s up to me in the end. The country is very supportive, but there is a certain degree of expectation.”

With first and only eight division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao nearing retirement, Stockinger admits the Philippines is in need of new heroes.

“We are always looking for the next athlete and if I do it, that would be the next story, but if it’s not me there’s always another story coming up.”

Whether he makes it to F1 or not, Stockinger has already pledged to help reactivate a dormant grassroots karting scene in the Philippines, while using the advantage and experience of his mixed heritage to help more Filipinos tread the slightly lesser untread path into Europe.

“I’m definitely on a mission to inspire the next generation and provide the blueprint for what can be done. My sponsors have helped me get this far so I’d like to think if a kid has got the talent there’s no reason he can’t get the funding as well.”