Iñigo Anton, a prodigious talent both on the physical track and the virtual race course, has etched his name in history just by representing the Philippines at the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in Singapore.
IÑIGO Anton with the pro-level sim-racing rigs used for the FIA-sanctioned e-Olympics Motorsports event.
Photographs courtesy
of Karen Anton
GRAN Turismo 7 is not something Iñigo Anton played before as he grew up with
Assetto Corsa and RFactor 2.
This event marks an exciting convergence of traditional motorsports and the burgeoning world of e-sports, with Anton serving as a testament to the fluidity between these two domains.
He is happy with his performance and has taken the lessons he has learned for a better performance next time around.
Anton’s journey in racing spans a decade, during which he has amassed a wealth of experience across various disciplines. In the first half of 2023 alone, he competed in his inaugural rally race for Rally Sprint PH, was named Driver of the Year for Circuit Racing by the Automobile Association of the Philippines, and joined the Toyota Vios Sprint Cup in Malaysia.
He recently finished at the top in the first round of the Formula V1 Challenge held in Clark. His adaptability to different racing styles, from dirt racing to time trials, has been a remarkable aspect of his career.
However, it isn’t merely on the physical racetrack that Anton excels. During the pandemic lockdowns, he also emerged as a formidable competitor in the sphere of sim racing. A distinct honor was conferred upon him as he became the first Filipino to compete in the Olympic Esports Week for Motorsports, representing the Philippines.
Given the opportunity to compete in Gran Turismo 7, a game he had not played since he was 7 and a discipline that he confessed was not too familiar with, Anton dedicated himself to rigorous training to secure his slot. His hard work paid off when he clinched the top qualifying spot from fellow Filipino sim racers Russel Reyes and Luis Moreno in an AAP sanctioned, private qualifying event, earning him a ticket to the e-Olympics in Singapore.
In Singapore, Anton found himself among 32 elite competitors from around the world. From this pool, only 12 racers would proceed to the 42-lap race championship, and Anton secured his spot among the finalists. In a phone interview, he narrated the stress and pressure he had to overcome, as he had less time to familiarize himself with the more detailed aspects of Gran Turismo, such as testing for the proper tire compound and the tire-wear settings determined by the race organizers.
On the Friday before the race, competitors only had an hour of seat time for practice and on Saturday they were only given four hotlaps to set their fastest qualifying time for the finals race. With skill and determination, Anton was able to bag the 8th spot out of 12 finalists for the final race on Sunday. Unfortunately, he had a difficult finals race, having employed a different pit and tire strategy that did not quite pan out for him, and landed him in the 12th and last spot. Despite not securing a podium finish, Anton underscored the fact that merely qualifying for the Olympics was an accomplishment in and of itself. He is happy with his performance and has taken the lessons he has learned for a better performance next time around.
Anton’s journey has been marked by a relentless hunger to learn and adapt, fueled by a strong support system comprising his parents, sponsors, teams, and mentors. One of his key mentors is former Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong, whose advice Anton greatly values. As a representative of Yoong’s team, Axle Motorsports, Anton regards every practice session with his sim racing team as an opportunity to glean as much information as possible from the seasoned racer .
Anton’s journey to the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore is a testament to his adaptability, resilience, and passion for motorsports. His story highlights the evolving landscape of motorsports, where physical and virtual racing converge, and athletes like Anton continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. With his zeal for learning and a supportive network, Anton is set to race towards greater heights in the future.
