Pastor seeks Macau GP podium finish again

Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor will be in a more powerful, quicker machine when he tries to improve on his third-place finish last year in the Macau Touring Car race of the 57th Macau Grand Prix starting next week. The first Filipino Macau GP podium finisher in 40 years after the legendary Dodjie Laurel, Pastor will race a Mitsubishi Evo 9 in the event featuring top Asian drivers, including aces from China and Hong Kong.

Pastor, the first Asian Formula Renault winner, drove a stock car last year. The Philippine Formula Autosports Foundation has endorsed Pastor’s participation in the prestigious event, set  Nov. 19 to 21 in the former Portuguese enclave. Riding the Evo 9 has given Pastor, the only Filipino racer in the field, extra confidence to perform well again. His participation in Asia’s longest-running racing festival is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and several private entities. Pastor, who started racing at 16, has had a colorful career. He earned a citation from the Philippine Sportswriters Association in 2003 and last year, after he won the International Asian Formula Renault title. -Steve Silva, Contributor