■ Harley F. Palangchao
Filipino racing driver Iñigo Anton of Baguio City made his debut in the last round of the Formula 4 South East Asia (F4 SEA) Championship and achieved an outstanding top five finish.
It was a remarkable achievement considering it was Anton’s first time driving a Formula car at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on Dec. 1 to 3.
The 19-year-old Anton has displayed incredible adaptability, a skill which he has honed through years of experience in various disciplines of motorsports – from autocross and karting to circuit racing.
Called by many as the “Fast Filipino”, Anton’s debut served as a testament to his exceptional talent behind the wheel, showcasing his potential in Formula racing.
“Iñigo was already quick from his first lap in practice. Very well done for his first time driving an F4. With more seat time, there is no doubt that he will continue to make waves as one of the best representatives of the Philippines in motorsports,” said Anton’s coach, former F1 racer Alex Yoong.
In a post-race social media post, Anton expressed his gratitude to everyone.
“My goal was to make it to the top 10, but against all odds, we achieved something we thought was unreachable in my first time in a Formula 4. A huge thank you to all of you, to my team, family, friends, supporters, and sponsors who believed in me from the start. All your encouragement played a big role in this accomplishment. This is just the start of my Formula racing journey. I’ll keep on pushing,” he said.
Anton is backed by Motul Philippines Infiniteserv, Yokohama Philippines, Time Master Watches, Alpinestars, Anton Financial and Black Arts Racing.
