The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Rising Filipino star driver Rainy Medina is looking far ahead in his aim to further boost his career in driving. He knows he has the ability and skills and 2024 is a very prospective year for him as tries to make driving a profession in the future.
“My end goal is Formula 4. Formula V1 is the entry-level formula racing which is what I wanted to get into,” he was quoted as saying when he started his very young career at 21 last year.
And he was rewarded with a championship that really surprised even Rainy as he fought tooth-and-nail with several experienced driver in the very challenging and tiring series at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.
He jumped into Formula V1 after shying away from the starter kart racing and it proved to be rewarding for him as he carried the colors of Autoholic Garage.
The 14-driver grid, consisting of both Pro Class and amateur was really challenging for Rainy. He had a tough battle with newbie racer, Juancho Brobio of Obengers Racing who took a commanding lead right from the very start. But Medina came back strong to bag the first race. Oliver Aquino of Tech 7 Project, took the second spot.
Rainy again dominated the 12-lap second race after first jostling with Brobio in the opening laps before the latter sadly had to retire after a sudden collision. A hard fight against Aquino who turned up the heat throughout the 12-lap race later ended up with Rainy winning as Aquino committed a crucial mistake in the dying laps.
For Rainy, his exceptional winning performance in his Formula V1 Challenge debut was very monumental and unforgettable part of his young career. “That is really unforgettable in my racing career. Formula V1 is the entry-level formula racing which is what I wanted to get into and I was so happy that I achieved a lot despite all odds.”
Medina, who always went with his father (a racing nut himself) at the racetrack, had a short stint with the Porsche racing school in the US where he was allowed to tinker with some racing cars as a bonus for his good work.
But since making a career in racing circuit in the US is really expensive, Medina had chosen to pursue his love for car racing here in Manila where his mother’s roots came from.
“This year we’re targeting Radical, Formula VITA in Japan and probably Formula 1000 in the UK,” he said.