UPDATE (27 September 2023): AAP has provided an update that there is an 11th driver competing for the Philippines with the late addition of Arion Crosby in the Karting Sprint Cup’s Junior category.
The Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) has revealed 11 drivers who will race the flag at the inaugural Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship (APMC), which will be held in Malaysia later this month. They will compete in different motorsport categories against the best in the region over a 2-day event with the goal of bringing pride to the country.
Organized with the collaboration of the regional ASNs, the APMC was designed to allow countries to compete against each other at a lower cost. It’s also envisioned to be a stepping stone to help participants, teams, and drivers who aim to compete on an international level as it provides valuable exposure and experience that only an event of this scale can offer. The APMC follows regulations set by the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) and aligned with the FIA International Sporting Code.
The inaugural event will take place at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from the 30th of September to the 1st of October and run 5 disciplines simultaneously.
4 drivers are competing in the Karting Sprint Cup. 11-year-old Axel Nocom will be the Philippines’ lone entry in Cadets, Arion Crosby in the Junior Category, while Miguel Quiñones and Ethan Ong will slug it out in the Senior Category.
As for the Karting Slalom Cup, teams must consist of 1 male and 1 female driver, represented by Joaquin ‘Wakkeen’ Garrido and Shaniah Quiñones.
The Philippine contingent in Auto Gymkhana Cup will see a reunion of Mark Bernales, Estefano Rivera, and Gabie Desales. The trio were able to deliver strong results when they teamed up in the Asia Auto Gymkhana Championship (AAGC) a few years back and hope to do the same in Malaysia.
Lastly, Iñigo Anton and Russel Reyes were able to earn slots in the E-Sport Cup after successfully qualifying in the online leaderboard event earlier this month.
All 10 were handpicked by the AAP as they have excelled in their respective disciplines in recent years. They are seasoned drivers who have proven to be capable of delivering wins or podiums whether on a local or international scale with some even being multi-time champions.
We wish them the best as they race the Philippine flag against 23 other APMC nations.
