Motul/Autoplus-Cleanfuel Racing Shines in First Leg of 2019 Formula V1

Formula V1 staged its first leg at the Batangas Racing Circuit with a total of 17 cars piloted by the country’s best drivers vying for championship points.

Among the top teams on this year’s grid is the Motul/Autoplus-Cleanfuel racing team. With Formula V1 champion Luis Gono sidelined this year for personal reasons, the team fielded actor Dominic Roque in the amateur class and veteran racer Ryo Yamada from Japan to run in the Pro Class category.

With his experience and driving skills, Yamada was able to clinch victory at the first race this season, successfully fending off other drivers. The feisty Japanese driver then replicated his success during race two, despite starting the race from fourth.

“It was a tough race and the Filipinos were no pushovers,” said Yamada. He had nothing but praises for the highly technical race track. “This is a good track with a lot of tight turns and fast straights,” he added.

The only incident that saddened the international racer was the way some drivers displayed a level of unprofessionalism resulting in a skirmish with a rival team during race three.

Despite this experience, Yamada and Team Motul/Autoplus-Cleanfuel will soldier on. “I will just make this unfortunate incident a positive experience and learn from it,” says Yamada.

Autoplus Will Likely Have the Most Awesome Display at the Manila International Auto Show 2019

Every year, the Autoplus display always seems to grab the lion’s share of attention at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). For the 2019 installment, it won’t be different as Autoplus is set to wow the crowd with its display of iconic supercars.

The distributor of Motul oils and lubricants in the country will showcase the Ferrari F40—a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive built from 1987 to 1992. With only 1,315 units produced globally, this twin-turbo V8-powered limited-edition masterpiece will surely delight car enthusiast and show goers alike.

Besides the F40, Autoplus will also be displaying the Lotus Exige V6 Cup and McLaren 570S GT4—both fresh from Motul’s very own 300V Superfast Track Event.

The Lotus Exige V6 Cup is a race version of the Exige two-door sports car built by Lotus Cars since 2000. This track-oriented version first launched in 2012 has the same engine as that of the Exige S, but the V6 Cup differs in its bespoke exterior and interior trims which are more track-focused.

Meanwhile, the McLaren 570S GT4 is the track-oriented version of the 570S. Using a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, it makes 570 horsepower and 601 Nm of torque. Compared to the “regular” 570S, it has an air jack suspension system, center-lock magnesium wheels shod with Pirelli racing slicks, and a race-style cooling system.

The Autoplus pavilion is located inside the main hall. The Manila International Auto Show 2019 starts from Thursday, April 4 and runs until Sunday, April 7, 2019. Doors open at 10 AM.