Marlon Stockinger Unlikely To Enter Showbiz Soon

It looks like TV, movies and modeling contracts for Filipino-Swiss racing sensation Marlon Stockinger will have to wait.

The handsome young man is bent on accomplishing a lifelong dream – to become the first ever Filipino to be a full-fledged Formula 1 (F1) driver.

Asked about plans of entering showbiz, Stockinger said, “Right now I’m devoting all my time and energy to racing. I know that I’ve been given one-of-a-kind opportunities to pursue my dream, and I’m dead-set on making the most of them.”

Stockinger was back in the country for 10 days recently and has created quite a clamor for his presence after being named a Junior Driver for the Lotus F1 team of Eric Boullier.

Already a sports hero in his own right, Stockinger is another excellent Filipino athlete shining through the international sports arena. “It’s a great honor to be part of the Lotus F1 Team, and an even greater honor to bear the Filipino flag as I train and compete,” said he.

The racing sensation is now in Europe to continue testing in France and Spain later this month.

By April onwards, he begins competing in a series of 18 races all over Europe. Two races will be held in a different country each weekend starting in Italy on April 6 and 7, followed by Spain on April 27 and 28, Monaco in time for the F1 Grand Prix on May 25 and 26, in Belgium on June 1 and 2, Russia on June 22 and 23, Austria on July 20 and 21, Hungary on September 14 and 15, France on September 28 and 29, and finally capping off with Races 17 and 18 in Spain on October 19 and 20.

In between, Stockinger will return to Manila for the big Lotus F1 roadshow from May 4-5.

source: mb.com.ph

Schumacher wrong to return, says Ecclestone

PARIS — Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Michael Schumacher was wrong to return to the sport, claiming the German had severely damaged his legacy as a seven-time world champion.

The 43-year-old Schumacher quit the sport in 2006 before being tempted into an ill-fated return in 2010 at Mercedes where he spent three seasons being largely outshone by teammate Nico Rosberg.

He brought the curtain down on his second spell at last month’s Brazilian Grand Prix where he finished seventh.

“I would rather he had stopped as a seven-time world champion than stopping now,” Ecclestone told www.formula1.com.

“People new to the sport — people who have joined the F1 fan fraternity just recently — will remember Michael now, not as he was. They don’t see the hero that he was but the human that can fail.”

But Ecclestone had some words of comfort for Schumacher, admitting that three-time champion Sebastian Vettel will find it hard to break his record of seven crowns.

“He is not half way there. It will be a question of how good his team will stay — or how bad the others are,” said Ecclestone.

“When Michael won his five titles with Ferrari it was because Ferrari did a better job than any other team — that is the same with Red Bull at the moment. Whether they can continue, you don’t know. Let’s wait and see.”

source: interaksyon.com