March 29, 2024

Philippines racing phenom, Inigo Anton of Baguio City, has racked up two wins over the weekend to take the overall lead in the Phoenix Formula V1 virtual championship. 

The 16-year-old Anton, who race for Team Obengers in this championship, shifted to virtual racing since the lockdown in March where he has been consistently winning.

Anton took pole position on the third race of the championship and led from start to finish. Coming in second was 2019 Formula V1 champion and real-life racer, Estefano Rivera also of Team Obengers. Anton, who had a perfect start, pulled away on lap one and then steadily padded his lead to win over Rivera and eventual third placer Russel Reyes.

Rivera set the fastest lap with a time of 01:32.603.

Race four at Laguna Seca Raceway had a reversed starting grid for the top 10 finishers of race three so Anton had to start in 10th position. He slowly moved his way up to the top spot after battling it out for several laps with professional sim racer and Philippine Supra GT Virtual Cup champion Terrence Lallave.  

Lallave of Lallave Motorsports Project finished second to Anton while the country’s top sim racing coach, Luis Moreno of Legion of Racers, rounding up the top three spots.

“It was one of the most nerve wracking races of my life. I had to make sure I did not get involved in any accidents since I started mid-pack in the reverse grid,” Anton said after the race.  

Anton and Moreno now go into the final round leading the pack in the pro class championship. 

With a multiplication factor of times two in the final round, Anton will need all the consistency he can muster in the final round.  

The Baguio boy had won the Tuason Race for Frontliners Championship back in June and has had a good showing in the Eracing GP series of former F1 driver, Alex Yoong.    – Harley F. Palangchao