After scoring in two races during his F4 debut last year, Iñigo Anton will give it another try this year.
Anton is set to see action anew in the fourth and final leg of the 2024 Formula 4 Australian Championship at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, a Category 1 former Formula 1 track from September 7-8.
The Baguio race car phenom, who has been racing since the age of eight, said it will be a competitive series with high stakes as some of the best up and coming race car drivers compete.
“It’s nerve wracking but at the same time excited. These past weeks, and even the past months, I have been constantly preparing for this race. This is going to be the biggest race for me this year and even my whole life,” said Anton.
Iñigo’s father Carlos, a champion car racer himself added aside from the simulators, he has also been joining touring car races in Malaysia this year for him to get familiar with the Sepang International Circuit.
“This Friday (Aug. 29), he will be leaving already and will be joining a 500-kilometer race in Sepang to get acclimatize with the circuit and hopefully that will prepare him even more for the F4 race,” said Carlos.
Motul Philippines Infiniteserv, a prominent supplier of high-performance lubricants and automotive products, will also be back to support the Formula 4 journey of their factory driver, and will be racing with The Black Arts Racing Team, overseen by Sporting Director and former F1 driver Alex Yoong.
Currently, Iñigo is leading the championship in the 2024 Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup while securing national championships in both Formula V1 and Radical Cars Philippines back in 2023.
In 2022, he made history by winning three championships in a single year, earning titles as the TGR Vios Cup Super-Sporting champion, Radical Philippines champion, and being recognized as AAP Driver of the Year for Circuit Racing after topping the Philippine GT championship.
He was also the sole representative of the Philippines in the inaugural Olympic Esports Competition in Motorsports held in Singapore, finishing as a finalist among the top 10 Gran Turismo racers globally.
While Iñigo may be busy in racing car, his schooling has not taken a backseat as he has been a consistent honor student according to mom Karen, who also serves as his manager.
“He graduated valedictorian in elementary and high school, and now in college, we won’t deny that it’s a struggle. I actually told him to stop schooling first but he doesn’t want. I told him he is peaking and I don’t want too much stress on him,” added Navarrete-Anton.
They are also thankful to the University of Baguio for supporting Iñigo in his career, giving him modules to study while abroad with the agreement that he takes quizzes and exams face to face. Roderick Osis
