Philippine driver Vicente Floirendo earns 3rd place in Ferrari Challenge race

It’s been a good weekend for Filipino drivers in world-class motorsport events. Philippine driver Vicente Floirendo took a podium finish in race 1 of the Ferrari Challenge in Australia, in the Coppa Shell category. The race was part of the first Ferrari Racing Days event in Australia, held at the Sydney Motorsport Park circuit. Aside from the 458 Asia Pacific Challenge race series, the prancing horse also held displays of its Formula One machinery and a simulated pit stop. Ferrari also displayed its complete lineup as well as classic Ferraris, and held demonstration runs. It marked the largest gathering of Ferrari cars in Australia.

 

Floirendo followed David Tjiptobiantoro of Indonesia and Paul Van Loenhout of Australia onto the podium. Floirendo finished sixth in his category in the second race of the day.

 

The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is a one-make series designed for both complete track novices and those with competition experience. The novices compete in the Coppa Shell event, while the experienced drivers race in the Trofeo Pirelli. Ferrari says that with each division having a title up for grabs, this avoids having a one-sided contest and assures of a good show, from expert competitors racing at a very high level, as well as gentleman drivers who can thus compete on equal terms.

 

The series uses race-modified Ferrari 458 sports cars, generating 570hp and 540 Nm. Floirendo’s participation is supported by the Philippine Ferrari distributor Autostrada Motore Inc.

 

The podium by Floirendo follows a second-place finish by Filipino-Swiss driver Marlon Stockinger in the Formula Renault 3.5 series in Monza, Italy.