MANILA, Philippines - Marlon Stockinger, coming off a triumphant campaign in the GP3 Series late last year in Monaco, officially became a Junior Driver for the prestigious Lotus F1 team, putting him alongside six other top recruits from across the globe.
They include Marco Sorensen of Denmark, Alex Fontana of Switzerland, Oscar Tunjo of Colombia, Esteban Ocon of France, Alexander Albon of Thailand, and Dorian Boccolacci of France.
“It’s a great feeling to be associated with such a prestigious team. If you look back through the years as Benetton and Renault you can see that this team knows how to win championships, so to be surrounded by that heritage is a big honor for me,†said Stockinger. “I really want to make the most of it and am looking forward to wearing the team color with pride.â€
Stockinger and company will thus be supported by the Lotus F1 Team in all areas of driving skills, physical fitness, health & nutrition, social & mental development, business ethics & principals, as well as PR training.
Meanwhile, Stockinger is also set to compete in the World Series by Renault, a challenge that he vows to truly work hard for to build a strong platform and progress through the ranks.
“Motorsport can be very daunting for young drivers, particularly everything that occurs away from the track, so we hope to give our drivers the very best preparation possible for their future careers,†said Lotus F1 team principal Eric Boullier,
As a treat to Filipino racing fans, Stockinger and the entire team will be on hand when an actual Formula I car is flown to Manila for a Lotus I Roadshow event on May 3-5 on the streets of Manila.
Stockinger will have the unique privilege of being its official driver, another honor not only for him but also for a lot of Filipinos who dream of one day making it big internationally.