ONE STEP closer to his dream of competing in Formula 1, Marlon Stockinger feels he is more than ready to take on the challenge now that he has been selected to the Lotus F1 Junior Team.
The past few weeks have been a blur for Stockinger as he allowed the news of his inclusion to the team sink in.
The Filipino-Swiss driver is also thrilled that he will be driving the F1 car that Lotus will bring to Manila in May in the Lotus F1 roadshow.
“I didn’t expect this to happen because I didn’t know how Lotus felt about me last year,” said Stockinger at a press conference backed by sponsor Globe Tattoo at the Manila Peninsula yesterday.
“Right now, I’m closer than ever to my dream. When I heard that I will be in the junior program, it came as a shock plus the fact that Lotus is bringing its F1 car here and I’m driving it.”
The 21-year-old Stockinger was selected along with six other drivers —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.
Stockinger has come a long way from the days when his father, Thomas, brought him to the track in Carmona, Cavite to drive go-karts during weekends.
And he understands that there will be plenty of work ahead for him to finally achieve his dream.
“I have to do well and win races,” said Stockinger, who will compete in the World Series by Renault this year.
“We already have the connections and I’m driving in the right series. All the foundations are there. It’s just a matter of putting it all together.”