Filipino racer Zach David revs up for Formula Regional in Europe | ABS-CBN
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Filipino racer Zach David revs up for Formula Regional in Europe
Filipino racer Zach David revs up for Formula Regional in Europe
Nina Angela Cruz,
ABS-CBN News,
ABS-CBN News
Published May 10, 2024 09:39 PM PHT
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Updated May 11, 2024 03:43 PM PHT
Zach David suits up for R-ace GP for FRECA 2024. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Photo Agency)
Zach David suits up for R-ace GP for FRECA 2024. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Photo Agency)Zach David is set on a mission to bring glory to the Philippines as he competes in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) beginning this May.
Zach David is set on a mission to bring glory to the Philippines as he competes in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) beginning this May.
After an impressive fourth-place overall ranking in his FR Middle East Championship (FRMEC) debut earlier this year, David is all revved up to race in all ten rounds of the European championship set to take place in some of the historic tracks in formula racing.
After an impressive fourth-place overall ranking in his FR Middle East Championship (FRMEC) debut earlier this year, David is all revved up to race in all ten rounds of the European championship set to take place in some of the historic tracks in formula racing.
Reflecting on his successful FRMEC season
David full-throttled in his rookie season in FRMEC, significantly contributing to his team R-ace GP’s victory in the team’s standings.
David full-throttled in his rookie season in FRMEC, significantly contributing to his team R-ace GP’s victory in the team’s standings.
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The Maltese-licensed driver clinched two silver and two bronze podiums and ended with 112 total points, proving his skills could be at par with other drivers supported by Formula 1 teams, and perhaps better than contenders who were already competing at a higher level competition such as Formula 3.
The Maltese-licensed driver clinched two silver and two bronze podiums and ended with 112 total points, proving his skills could be at par with other drivers supported by Formula 1 teams, and perhaps better than contenders who were already competing at a higher level competition such as Formula 3.
Zach David (L) finished P2 during race 1 of FRMEC's round 5 in Dubai. His team R-ace GP also bagged the team championship title. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Photo Agency)
Zach David (L) finished P2 during race 1 of FRMEC's round 5 in Dubai. His team R-ace GP also bagged the team championship title. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Photo Agency)“It was a bit unexpected because we struggled a little bit in the second and third round of the championship so we weren't really expecting to be fighting up there, to be honest. But yeah, all of a sudden, from the fourth round and the fifth round it was just like we found something that worked for us,” he told ABS-CBN News.
“It was a bit unexpected because we struggled a little bit in the second and third round of the championship so we weren't really expecting to be fighting up there, to be honest. But yeah, all of a sudden, from the fourth round and the fifth round it was just like we found something that worked for us,” he told ABS-CBN News.
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Gearing up for FRECA
FRECA will see David competing in his longest race calendar so far, with 10 rounds with 2 races each, plotted in European tracks including Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Circuit Paul Ricard in France, Red Bull Ring in Austria, and Monza Circuit in Italy, among others.
FRECA will see David competing in his longest race calendar so far, with 10 rounds with 2 races each, plotted in European tracks including Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Circuit Paul Ricard in France, Red Bull Ring in Austria, and Monza Circuit in Italy, among others.
The first round will be on May 11-12 at the Hockenheimring in Germany.
The first round will be on May 11-12 at the Hockenheimring in Germany.
To view the full FRECA 2024 calendar, click here.
To view the full FRECA 2024 calendar, click here.
Zach David on track during pre-testing in Hockenheimring, Germany. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Photo Agency)
Zach David on track during pre-testing in Hockenheimring, Germany. (Photo courtesy of Dutch Photo Agency)The 17-year-old driver said preparations for this season had been underway since last year, and were even boosted by the five-round Middle East championship held from January to February.
The 17-year-old driver said preparations for this season had been underway since last year, and were even boosted by the five-round Middle East championship held from January to February.
“As soon as the UAE finished, we started preparing from the points we saw, like what we lacked on in the UAE,“ he said.
“As soon as the UAE finished, we started preparing from the points we saw, like what we lacked on in the UAE,“ he said.
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“...A lot of preparation was done as a team together so I think we can be quite confident with the preparation for the FRECA season and I think that was a good and productive offseason,” he told ABS-CBN News.
“...A lot of preparation was done as a team together so I think we can be quite confident with the preparation for the FRECA season and I think that was a good and productive offseason,” he told ABS-CBN News.
David will still be competing with French team R-ace GP for this upcoming championship. David said he worked closely with the team to work on their weaknesses and build on their strengths coming into the European races.
David will still be competing with French team R-ace GP for this upcoming championship. David said he worked closely with the team to work on their weaknesses and build on their strengths coming into the European races.
Particularly, David said they lacked in delivering results in one-lap races. As for their strengths, David thought their team had a good grasp of managing their races.
Particularly, David said they lacked in delivering results in one-lap races. As for their strengths, David thought their team had a good grasp of managing their races.
“Generally I think we're quite strong in the management of the race [...] I think we manage each race quite well. Obviously, there’s still room to improve on that so we will be fixing that for the FRECA season. But I think that was one of our strengths. How we manage the race and how we manage the tyres throughout the race, as we saw that sometimes we had more life on the tyres than some other teams,” he shared.
“Generally I think we're quite strong in the management of the race [...] I think we manage each race quite well. Obviously, there’s still room to improve on that so we will be fixing that for the FRECA season. But I think that was one of our strengths. How we manage the race and how we manage the tyres throughout the race, as we saw that sometimes we had more life on the tyres than some other teams,” he shared.
David focused on building up on his strength and resistance for the full-length championship spanning from May to October.
David focused on building up on his strength and resistance for the full-length championship spanning from May to October.
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“I worked on myself quite a lot. Quite a lot of going to the gym, getting stronger. Basically everyday I just go to the gym, running, biking, playing padel, increasing my overall strength.I think that was the biggest thing I could do for myself. And then everything else I did with the team,” he said.
“I worked on myself quite a lot. Quite a lot of going to the gym, getting stronger. Basically everyday I just go to the gym, running, biking, playing padel, increasing my overall strength.I think that was the biggest thing I could do for myself. And then everything else I did with the team,” he said.
David added that competing for a longer season takes a toll on a driver not only in a physical sense but also mentally.
David added that competing for a longer season takes a toll on a driver not only in a physical sense but also mentally.
“It’s a bit more mentally taxing. You have more rounds, more races, more travel days as well. So say for example the race you see is on Saturday and Sunday but you don't know that the whole week before that, we’re preparing for the race and working with the team. Going to the factory, we have to drive at the track as well, track walk, and we’ll look at previous data . There’s a lot of work being put into the race weekend so it's also quite a bit more tiring,” he said.
“It’s a bit more mentally taxing. You have more rounds, more races, more travel days as well. So say for example the race you see is on Saturday and Sunday but you don't know that the whole week before that, we’re preparing for the race and working with the team. Going to the factory, we have to drive at the track as well, track walk, and we’ll look at previous data . There’s a lot of work being put into the race weekend so it's also quite a bit more tiring,” he said.
As a Grade 10 student, his busy schedule also meant he had to exert more effort to balance his studies and training for his motorsports career.
As a Grade 10 student, his busy schedule also meant he had to exert more effort to balance his studies and training for his motorsports career.
But as he always said in previous interviews, it was a sacrifice he was willing to make for his dream of reaching Formula 1.
But as he always said in previous interviews, it was a sacrifice he was willing to make for his dream of reaching Formula 1.
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Racing towards Formula 1
Theoretically, he is now just three steps away from this dream, based on the FIA Global Pathway to Formula 1, which places Formula Regional after Formula 4 and before Formula 3, Formula 2, and ultimately Formula 1.
Theoretically, he is now just three steps away from this dream, based on the FIA Global Pathway to Formula 1, which places Formula Regional after Formula 4 and before Formula 3, Formula 2, and ultimately Formula 1.
With this, David hopes to get more support from the Filipino community as he tries to climb his way up to his ultimate dream, one race at a time.
With this, David hopes to get more support from the Filipino community as he tries to climb his way up to his ultimate dream, one race at a time.
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ABS-CBN News' interview with Zach David on May 5, 2024 while he was still in Malta before he departs for R-ace GP factory in France.
ABS-CBN News' interview with Zach David on May 5, 2024 while he was still in Malta before he departs for R-ace GP factory in France.“I hope to get support from everyone so I hope to get support from the Philippines. For sure, if I were able to get support from everyone and get everyone behind me, I’m sure we can be at F3 for the next year. And if we do well there, then who knows? Maybe a seat in F2 opens up, and then that opens up quite a lot of possibilities,” he said.
“I hope to get support from everyone so I hope to get support from the Philippines. For sure, if I were able to get support from everyone and get everyone behind me, I’m sure we can be at F3 for the next year. And if we do well there, then who knows? Maybe a seat in F2 opens up, and then that opens up quite a lot of possibilities,” he said.
In the meantime, David is laser-focused on his upcoming season in FRECA. With more races than FRMEC, this raised the probability of seeing the Filipino flag raised on the podiums in the global motorsport scene.
In the meantime, David is laser-focused on his upcoming season in FRECA. With more races than FRMEC, this raised the probability of seeing the Filipino flag raised on the podiums in the global motorsport scene.
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“I don’t really wanna put any expectations to it but for sure I expect to always do my best, give my best every weekend and I’m sure if I do my best every weekend, if all of us as a team work hard together, I’m sure we'll get the results we deserve,” he said.
“I don’t really wanna put any expectations to it but for sure I expect to always do my best, give my best every weekend and I’m sure if I do my best every weekend, if all of us as a team work hard together, I’m sure we'll get the results we deserve,” he said.
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