Angie King grabs 2nd place at 2017 Ferrari Challenge

At the 4th round of the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific at the Fuji Speedway, 35 drivers from 13 different nations competed in various classes on the 4.563 km circuit. One of the 3 racers to step on the podium was Filipino newcomer Angie King. 

For the uninitiated, the Ferrari Challenge is one of the brand's program under the Corse Clienti, which is a series of trainings and races for Ferrari clients all over the world. The exclusive group holds track training races to achieve the dream of competing at the tracks in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. 

In record, the last Filipino to compete in Ferrari's one-make race series was Vicente Florendo in 2015. He had a number of podium finishes, which pinned Philippines in the map of countries with highly skilled racers. 

This year, another Filipino has triumphantly competed in the Fuji Speedway race and got in the 2nd-place podium. Angie King, a newcomer to the race, punched 32 minutes 5.417 seconds (32'05.417) at the clock for the 1st race in the Trofeo Pirelli AM category. She finished around 11 seconds behind the 1st placer Tiger Wu from Taiwan after her car spun on the chicane turns after 12 laps. 

The track, which has the longest straight in all motorsport circuit with 1.475 km stretch, was competed mostly by Ferrari 488 Challenge cars. This model is the 1st vehicle in the 24-year history of the race to bear a turbo engine, which is claimed to be the most powerful in the series. It has a 3.9-liter V8 engine that can deliver 670 hp.

The Fuji Speedway challenge was King's 1st race in the series. She will bear the Philippine flag once again in Sepang in Malaysia this August, then in Mugello, Italy this coming October.