Amid the rising motorsport scene of Southeast Asia, the Philippines has yet to make a significant mark in Formula 3. But Zachary David, an 18-year-old talent from Manila, is working to change that. As the only Filipino to join the 2025 FRECA grid, David is balancing his commitments to both Super Formula Lights and FRECA for 2025, while proudly carrying the Filipino flag on the international stage.
In an exclusive interview with Pit Debrief, David shared insights into his racing journey, balancing life in Europe with his duties for CL Motorsport in FRECA and his campaign in Super Formula Lights in Japan.
The return to FRECA and the adjustment period
David’s return to FRECA in 2025 was not without its hurdles. He joined the grid mid-season at Budapest’s fourth round, having missed the preseason and a couple of races prior. The adjustment to a new team, CL Motorsport, proved to be more challenging than expected.
“I think it was a bit more of a challenge than it should have been because I missed out on all the preseason and a couple of races before. So yeah, there’s quite a bit of a learning curve to get used to the car again. I think it was quite exciting though. It was fun to be back in the paddock,” he narrated.
With intense competition among the drivers, David’s approach is focused on refining his skills and finding areas for improvement.
“I think I’d say, as a driver, I just have to find out which points I’m missing. And that’s all I can really do. I mean, obviously, I’m there also to help the team develop the car. So we’ll just have to work harder than the others to see some other ways that we can find in order to gain the lost time.”
Achieving awards despite the adjustment
Despite not being in the points at Le Castellet, David earned the PirelliRising Car Award, the driver who gains the most positions throughout a weekend. During the French round, David made an impressive 13-place improvement in the race.
The CL Motorsport driver explained how this award affected not only his confidence but also his adaptability.
“Getting that award was kind of, I’d say, something, at least something I was able to take home, since we weren’t able to fight for the points at all. It just shows that we’re moving in the right direction. So I think just given more time, the results should come.”
Bridging cultures through racing
David’s unique position of racing in both Super Formula Lights in Japan and some FRECA rounds in Europe presents a unique set of challenges—especially given the stark differences in both racing culture and car setup.
“I think both series have challenged me in different ways,” he explained, “You know, coming here to Japan was quite a bit of a difference, you know, because I’ve basically been racing in Europe since 2020 to 2021. So coming back here was a bit of, I’d say, a big difference to adapt to.”
The adjustment between the cars is particularly noticeable. In Super Formula Lights, the cars have significantly more downforce than those in FRECA, requiring a different driving style.
“I think it helps me as a driver being able to adapt between the two, like you can say cultures from here in Asia, then I go back to Europe. So it helps a bit on that, driving-wise.”
“I think there’s quite a big change to every car, you know, like the one here in Japan, for example, the car is like way more downforce. So, you know, you have to drive it a little bit differently than how I would normally drive the FRECA [car]. So adapting to that and also adapting back and forth has been, you know, a bit of a challenge because it’s kind of like two really different styles in order to be fast.”
Seeing double for race weekends
David’s intense schedule has included back-to-back race weekends, often with him competing with both CL Motorsport in FRECA and B-Max Racing in Super Formula Lights. He explained how he prepares for each event.
“Well, obviously preparation helps with everything. Sometimes I’ll just be spending time in the factory, spending time in the sim, just like going over with the engineers, with the coaches, how to like, you know, how to make the transition easier. I think it helps that I do have that prior experience in FRECA so that I already kind of have a feeling on how I should drive the car.”
“I’d say that I’m able to get a lot of track time. So that can only be helpful for me as a driver with more experience.”
Familiarisation and preparation
David’s experience with R-ace GP in his early years in F4 and FRECA, and his transition to CL Motorsport in 2025, has shaped his understanding of race weekend preparation.
“I’d say the preparation for the race weekend really varies from team to team, even over in Europe. So for example, in F4 and FRECA, I was in two different teams and preparation there always varied per team.”
“I’d say the main parts are always quite similar. Like you go over to pass data, you do the track walk, you do some sim sessions beforehand in order to like familiarise yourself. I’d say the base of like preparation is always the same. But then there are some little details that do change within the team, like throughout different teams.”
This adaptability is something that David credits for his success as he continues to balance both regions and both reams. However, while David’s journey is unique, his case is not isolated. Fellow gridmates, including the likes of Yaroslav Veselaho, who has dipped his toes into GT3, and Doriane Pin, who currently competes F1 Academy, face similar challenges.
Despite the challenges, however, David is not worried. As he continues his motorsport journey across different series, his adaptability and versatility are expected to grow, improving his overall strength as a driver. Jet lag certainly won’t stop Zachary David’s ascent as one of the Philippines’ standout motorsport talents.
