Sports

Pinoy driver Stockinger fetches his first points in Russia

Camille Diola - The Philippine Star

June 25, 2013 | 3:56pm

MANILA, Philippines - After consecutive losses in the series, Filipino race car driver Marlon Stockinger finally contributed his first four points to Lotus F1 Junior Team, finishing for the first time in top 10 this year at the newly built raceway in Moscow, Russia.

Thumbs up after some points this weekend! Need to keep working harder now #Lotus http://t.co/NVqZAoPfdO
â€” Marlon Stockinger (@imstockinger) June 25, 2013

The 22-year-old Stockinger, part of the Lotus F1 Junior team, finished 10th overall in the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series' Moscow meeting.

"Excellent performance came from Filipino driver Marlon Stockinger, who scored the first ever top 10 result, and immediately it was sixth position on the grid," Czech motorsport observer Joao Correa said.

Stockinger's Danish teammate Marco Sorensen, meanwhile, also earned a point for the team.

Stockinger (right) stands on the rookie class podium at the Formula Renault 3.5 championship's Moscow leg as third best with Belgium's Stoffel Vandoorne (center) ranked first and UK's William Buller ranked second.

The Malate-born Stockinger also made the rookie class podium as the third best driver in the race last Saturday.

"Unfortunately I lost two places at the start because I had a lot of wheel spin. After that everybody kept their position for the whole race," Stockinger said, sharing his experience in the race.

"It looks kind of easy from the outside, but it is extremely difficult to keep your concentration for 40 minutes and not making a mistake, which could instantly cost you a position," he added.

The Filipino F1 hopeful then qualified in Race 2 where he finished 12th.

Stockinger, however, has been struggling since the start of this year's Formula 3.5 series in upset finishes in Monza, Motorland, Monaco and Spa-Francoschamps meetings.

He admitted that he has been adjusting with the new formula vehicle with which he encountered technical errors, entering the first four legs of the season without scoring points.

"After struggling the first half of the season and after some unfortunate race incidents, I feel more and more comfortable with the World Series car, which is quite a step up from GP3 and extremely physical to drive," Stockinger said.

Lotus F1 Junior team manager Robert Vavrik, for his part, said that Stockinger performed well in Moscow despite difficulties for the team, currently ranked 10th in the series.

"I am very disappointed because (the team) had a lot of bad luck again. Today maybe one thing came out - with Marlon strategy, he pitted as last and gained a lot of positions. He fought to the end, it wasnÂ´t easy and finished just outside the points," Vavrik said.

Stockinger is competing with 23 other drivers and is set to race next at the Red Bull Ring in Austria for the second half of the season.

The Filipino formula driver visited the Philippines in May to drive an F1 car for the first time in Manila streets for a speed show.