Formula Regional's Malta/Philippine Driver: Zachary David

Zachary ‘Zach’ David, a prodigious sixteen-year-old race car driver, is rapidly making a name for himself in the realm of single-seater racing. Despite his tender age, Zach boasts an impressive career trajectory. His journey began in the Philippines at the age of 11, where he competed in karting competitions and swiftly ascended the ranks, clinching national championships in the process.

Since 2020, Zach has been based in Malta, racing under a Maltese driving license and proudly representing the Maltese flag in his races. His career progression saw him transition from the World Series of Karting to Formula 4, and then to the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC). During his rookie experience in FRMEC, Zach secured an impressive 4th place overall in the championship.

Recently, Zach embarked on a new challenge: the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA). With a full season of European racing experience under his belt, Zach is poised to demonstrate his ability to compete at the highest echelons of open-wheel racing. FRECA, an open-wheel racing series sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), was established in 2019 with the aim of nurturing young drivers aspiring to climb the motorsport ranks.

Zach David R-ace GP

The 2024 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) calendar features 10 rounds at some of Europe’s most iconic circuits. The season commences at the Hockenheimring in Germany in May and concludes at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain in October. In the interim, drivers will compete at renowned tracks such as Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, the Red Bull Ring in Austria, and Monza in Italy.

This year’s grid is anticipated to be highly competitive, with over thirty drivers from more than 15 different countries participating. They’ll be racing in identical Tatuus T-318 chassis powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged Renault engine that produces 270 horsepower at 6000 rpm. Given the evenly matched equipment, the outcome will hinge on the drivers’ skill and strategy.

Zach is one of three drivers racing for R-Ace GP, a championship-winning French racing team that competes in various open-wheel racing series across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Established in 2011, the team has made its mark as a top contender in the Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Regional championships. For the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship, R-Ace GP has assembled a formidable driver lineup. The team has high expectations for Zach, following his impressive performance in the Middle East earlier this year. Zach seems to be living up to these expectations, having secured P3 in Qualifying 1 in Group B, to start in P6 in Race 1.

R-ace GP provides Zach with a competitive car, experienced engineers and mechanics, and the organisational resources of a professional racing outfit. With their track record of grooming young drivers and challenging for race wins, R-Ace GP aims to help Zach make the most of his rookie FRECA season.

In the months leading up to the first race of the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship, Zach David has been intensely preparing to take on this new challenge. Coming off a successful campaign in the Formula Regional Middle East, Zach has been training relentlessly to step up to the demands of the European circuit.

Zach spent much of the off-season at the R-Ace GP headquarters in France, working closely with his engineers to become intimately familiar with his new Dallara F3 chassis. He has been logging countless hours in the simulator, optimising his driving lines and braking points for the European tracks

The Hockenheimringring circuit in Germany hosted the first round of the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship on May 10th/\-12th. With its long straights and tight hairpin turns, Hockenheimring is considered a classic track that tests both power and handling.

The 4.574 km circuit features a distinctive stadium section, where grandstands surround the track on three sides. This creates an amphitheatre effect, allowing spectators to view a large portion of the circuit. The long straight, known as the start-finish straight, provides ample overtaking opportunities with its high speeds. Drivers must brake hard for the sharp Nordkurve hairpin at the end.

At Attard Baldacchino, we had the extraordinary opportunity to support our Maltese representative, Zach Davids, at the Formula European Regionals held at the Hockenheimring. Our journey began on Saturday, arriving early to soak in the pre-race atmosphere and witness the intense qualifiers. Zach’s performance was commendable, securing a 6th position start after a series of nail-biting timed laps.

However, the race was not without its challenges. Zach experienced a spin very soon after he managed to gain two positions and subsequently was hit by another driver who suffered a crash, which unfortunately led to an early exit from Saturday’s race. Sunday brought further technical difficulties during the qualifiers, with Zach’s car not performing up to expectations.

Despite these setbacks, Zach’s unwavering spirit was a beacon of resilience. Due to other competitors' accidents, the safety car frequently blocked the track in the second race. Yet, Zach remained undeterred as he moved up from the 24th position to the 16th in the short period he was able to overtake. His focus and patience were admirable, shrugging off the setbacks and eagerly awaiting his next opportunity in the upcoming races.

This experience has left an indelible impression on us, a testament to Zach’s determination and the thrilling world of motorsport. We look forward to cheering him on in his future races.

Success in FRECA requires consistency, race craft, and maturity over a long season. Zach will need to continue demonstrating these attributes against Europe's best young talents. Excellent results may attract interest from the driver academies of elite Formula 1 teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, or Red Bull. They are always looking to sign rising stars to their development programmes.

Alternatively, Zach could choose to continue honing his skills in Formula Regional for another season. Back-to-back championships would reinforce his reputation and potentially lead to better F3 drives in 2025. While focused on FRECA, Zach could also keep an eye on opportunities in endurance racing. Strong showings in events like the European Le Mans Series or Asian Le Mans Series could open doors to eventually racing at Le Mans. Zach has the versatility and talent to succeed in open-wheel single-seaters or closed-cockpit endurance cars.

This season will go a long way in determining Zach David's racing future. If he lives up to expectations, Zach could be on the path to becoming the next Filipino star representing both Malta and The Philippines in international motorsport. His journey in the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship started this weekend at Hockenheim.