Young Miranda making waves in International Motorsports

Right on Track!

CEBU, Philippines — Cebuano Daniel Miranda may be trying to keep a low-key as far as his racing career is concerned, but his overall performance as a rookie year at the end of this year’s Asian Formula Renault(AFR) Series is impressive enough to keep the local racing community ecstatic on his future.

From go-karts to being a Toyota Vios Cup champion, Miranda’s constant need for speed has eventually landed him into the AFR Series last March as part of Eurasia Motorsport and the only Pinoy at that in the series.

The 21-year-old Miranda’s first race in a single-seater, open wheel battle was a steep learning curve for him according to his coach Roland Hermoso to The Freeman.

“First of all, he was used to the Vios’ longer travel suspension and front wheel drive. With the Formula Renault, it was different he had to get used to the rear wheel drive. Much-much stiffer short travel suspensions and the sequential gear box,” recalls Hermoso.

Miranda’s debut race at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China was tough but managed to get into the top eight among the pros seeing action.

The Cebuana Lhuillier-sponsored Miranda on his second race did the impossible after emerging third no less than at the Shanghai F1 tracks also in China.

“He was off the pace by almost five seconds but on QTT he was already ahead of his more experienced teammate. Eventually finishing third on his second race!” added Hermoso.

In Ningbo, China for the next two races, it was another big track and his first experience racing under the rain.

“In practice, he was struggling but on race, he got up to as high as a fifth place but eventually had electrical problems.”

Miranda then came up with two fifth-place finishes at his first action at the Sepang International Circuit for the AFR.

In less than a month, Miranda returned to Sepang and returned home a hero after coming up with two third places finishes last weekend.

“He had two third-place finish in Sepang which put him already on the spotlight as one of the fastest drivers in Formula Renault. Daniel still has a lot to learn about the car and how to drive it but surely his potential is big!” an ecstatic coach Hermoso said.

“Even team owners and competitors and engineers are very impressed with what he has achieved in just one year in open wheel racing. In my opinion he has matured as a driver not only with pressure but the way he listens to the team and what they need from him,” ended Hermoso.

With this, Miranda is expected to have an even better performance when the AFR returns next year and hopefully pave his way to becoming Cebu’s if not, the country’s first F1 driver in the near future. (FREEMAN)