In the Philippines, motorsport opportunities become a bottleneck situation with many aspiring talents yet only select few go international. Lack of funding also plays a part in these drivers’ growth. In the end, many dreams only end up as dreams instead of reality.
For Zachary David, being Malta-based impacted his trajectory of his single-seater career. At just 15 years old, he was able to secure a seat in Italian Formula 4 under US Racing. Racing in historic tracks like Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, and Imola greatly helped him to get in tune with his peers. Two years later, David has stepped foot in the Formula Regional European Championship grid—now as a participant.
With the recent wrap-up of the 2025 FRECA season, the CL Motorsport driver concluded his year as a part-time participant. Months before this, Pit Debrief spoke exclusively with David on representing the Philippines on an international stage, a platform bigger and more pressure-filled than usual for the 18 year-old.
F4 UAE win the turning point for the Filipino
David has racked up the experience in single seaters, and the results speak for it. The Filipino’s 2024 season in FRMEC was marked by 3 victories, 13 podiums, 1 pole position, and 5 fastest laps. For David, his Formula 4 UAE win during the third race at Kuwait back in 2023 cemented his confidence for his skills.
“I think definitely the biggest turning point was back in F4 in the Middle East Championship when I was able to win that round.”
“I think that really like made me realize like, oh, you know, like we can do this. So I think also gave me more drive to become a better driver.”
The goal of Formula 3 “sooner rather than later”
Over the years, David has raced alongside big names in Formula 2 and 3. Sharing the grid with familiar faces like Taylor Barnard, Arvid Lindblad, and Alex Dunne, the dream to be in the Formula world continues. The Filipino driver is hopeful that the opportunity will come soon, but as always, the future remains unclear.
“Obviously, I hope that doors still always open like sooner rather than later,” David explains, “Hopefully it comes maybe next year. But yeah, we’re gonna have to see what happens.”
Some drivers end up being unsuccessful in breaking in the Formula grid due to many possible reasons. Often, these same drivers find glory in other categories like GT, endurance, or electric racing like Barnard. David, however, does not feel like these other series will give him the same enjoyment compared to Formula racing.
“Honestly, I think I’ve always been more of a fan of Formula. I’m not like super high onto, you know, GTs because one, I don’t really have any experience in that field. And I think I would just enjoy Formula more like as a driver,” he explains.
“But, you know, I really don’t know what the future has in store. So, you know, I’m always open to whatever challenge comes next.”
Facing challenges in driver development
Unlike Malta, the Philippines suffers from a limited number of motorsport opportunities. David recognized this contrast between the two, expressing the challenges he faced just to find races to compete in.
“Definitely it has kind of defined me as a driver in a way because back in the Philippines, or back then, the racing scene wasn’t really that big compared to now. So definitely development was a lot harder to start,” the Filipino narrated, “We had to go out, you know, like Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, all these other countries in order to find some races to do some competition.”
Compared to before, though, David also noticed the growing audience for motorsport in the country. Recently, Filipino driver Iñigo Anton made waves after becoming the rookie champion for the 2025 season of F4 Southeast Asia. David didn’t miss out on this, along with many more developments in the Philippines.
“I think now, like the scene in the Philippines has been growing quite big. So I don’t think there’s so much need for the locals to go abroad and, you know, like money, you know, like developing when you can have it at home, which is always a good thing.”
Proud is an understatement in representation
As the first Filipino to get in such a tough grid, the pressure doesn’t go unnoticed from David. “I just always wanted to be the best driver that I could, always drive my best on the track,” he says.
“In a way, I think it has shaped me, like, I have to, you know, do well for the country because it has so little representation on such a big stage, so there’s always a little bit of pressure to perform, but it’s always that’s normal.”
Digging deeper into his thoughts on representing the Philippines, David was never short of proud. “I feel that it’s good that I’m the representative in the Philippines,” he says.
“Personally, you know, it makes me feel like somewhat proud because I’m able to do something for the country and represent it well.”
The Filipino driver also goes back to home soil now and then. His most recent one was during his meet and greet session with B-Max Racing in Carmona. Asked if he has experienced the local development firsthand, David cited his observations within the community. “I mean, my time in the Philippines is very limited with the busy schedule, but from the times I have been there, definitely there is a growth in the motorsport community,” he narrates.
“It’s quite exciting to see with so many new, like, prospects wanting to go out, you know, into the international stage. I think the future looks good.”
Zachary David’s advice for local talent: “Enjoy every moment”
Not all Filipino racing fans are aware of the developments in the junior category. Often, most fans are focused on Formula 1 and everything else about it. Despite being overlooked, David reminds the drivers to have fun and enjoy every moment in racing. “I think the most important thing for me is that I always enjoy it because anyway, that’s why we’re here, you know, like obviously we’re here to win and get results and do well,” he comments.
“But I think at the core of everything, you should enjoy the sport, you know, it’s something that you should love doing, and it is something that I do love doing.”
The Filipino believes that having fun in racing should be priority because everything else will follow. Speaking from personal experience, David emphasizes the effects of enjoying what he does and how it affected his mindset.
“Just enjoy, enjoy every moment and, you know, just have fun with it because I think everything will come from the enjoyment that you have for the sport or the love that you have for the sport,” he highlights for his final message.
“Like it’ll just make you a better person. It’ll make you a better driver. You’ll have more motivation. You’ll have more drive just because you, you know, it’s truly something that you like doing. That’s my biggest advice.”
