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Pastor showcases Filipino driving skills in Euro NASCAR
Enzo Pastor's race car proudly banners an "It's more fun in the Philippines" sticker on its hood. Photo c/o Enzo Pastor
Conquering the Philippine streets is a feat on its own, and at least one professional race car driver is using the skills he learned on the mean streets of Manila to introduce the Filipino brand of driving to the world.
"If it rains, I'm almost a second faster than everyone," said former Formula 3 driver Enzo Pastor, before he left to compete anew in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, to be held in France over the weekend.
Pastor recognizes, though, that Westerners still have the edge in experience and exposure.
"Parang PE [Physical Education] lang nila yun e," said Pastor, before he races in another leg of the Euro NASCAR series.
"In terms of technicality, they're [Westerners] way up there," added Pastor. "The closest I've raced with in terms of technicality were the Australians. Asians, they're picking up, pero as drivers, you can feel the difference. Medyo behind ang Asians. All the cars being equal, that's where you start seeing [the difference]."
The shift to NASCAR was a learning experience for Pastor:
"It's the driving style you need for this specific car. In racing formula the past 15 years, I've been training myself to drive a certain way, smooth, slow inputs. With NASCAR, since the tire walls are really thick, suspension's soft, you have to be more abrupt sa input, so I have to unlearn. And then with the brakes, they want you to stomp on it, eh me, I'm the other way around so back to grade one."
NASCAR also presents a new challenge for the Filipino driver, as collisions are a common occurrence in the races.
"The closer you get to the front, the more prone you are to getting nudged. Like my race in Dijon, five times in one race I was hit, tapos yun nga, two flats, so even if you're in front trying to stay clean, you're at everyone's mercy parin. There's always someone around eh."
Pastor got up to fifth after the Brands Hatch leg of the series, enough to remain in the hunt for the top three spots. The last two legs in Monza and Le Mans will award double points, giving the Filipino driver a chance to give the Philippines its first podium finish in Euro NASCAR racing. - AMD, GMA News
"If it rains, I'm almost a second faster than everyone," said former Formula 3 driver Enzo Pastor, before he left to compete anew in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, to be held in France over the weekend.
Pastor recognizes, though, that Westerners still have the edge in experience and exposure.
"Parang PE [Physical Education] lang nila yun e," said Pastor, before he races in another leg of the Euro NASCAR series.
"In terms of technicality, they're [Westerners] way up there," added Pastor. "The closest I've raced with in terms of technicality were the Australians. Asians, they're picking up, pero as drivers, you can feel the difference. Medyo behind ang Asians. All the cars being equal, that's where you start seeing [the difference]."
The shift to NASCAR was a learning experience for Pastor:
"It's the driving style you need for this specific car. In racing formula the past 15 years, I've been training myself to drive a certain way, smooth, slow inputs. With NASCAR, since the tire walls are really thick, suspension's soft, you have to be more abrupt sa input, so I have to unlearn. And then with the brakes, they want you to stomp on it, eh me, I'm the other way around so back to grade one."
NASCAR also presents a new challenge for the Filipino driver, as collisions are a common occurrence in the races.
"The closer you get to the front, the more prone you are to getting nudged. Like my race in Dijon, five times in one race I was hit, tapos yun nga, two flats, so even if you're in front trying to stay clean, you're at everyone's mercy parin. There's always someone around eh."
Pastor got up to fifth after the Brands Hatch leg of the series, enough to remain in the hunt for the top three spots. The last two legs in Monza and Le Mans will award double points, giving the Filipino driver a chance to give the Philippines its first podium finish in Euro NASCAR racing. - AMD, GMA News
