AFTER HUMBLING an entire field which included 2004 Karter of the Year Matteo Guidicelli during the Philippine Rotax Max Senior Karting Championship last weekend at the Carmona Racing Circuit, Marlon Stockinger was asked what the secret to his success was, and his reply: "Tomato soup!"
According to the 14-year-old, who now has two karting titles under his belt, his crew chief and racing coach Othmar Stutz, who was given the moniker "Bigote" by the Philippine racing community because of the stylish moustache that he sports, concocts and cooks the best tomato soup that he has ever tasted.
"I really love the stuff." Stockinger, who drives for Swiss Finance and Investment Corp. (SFIC), Birel Team, Le Souffle, Kart Care, Bridgestone, Lima Hotel, Salon Privé and Malaysia Airlines, exclaimed.
"Othmar and I have a deal wherein he has to make me his special soup every time I perform well. And if I don’t get up the podium, I won’t get any!"
The young karter is scheduled to compete in the Junior Rotax World Karting Finals in Langkawi, Malaysia on Nov. 26. It will be the second time this year that he will represent the Philippines in the annual karting spectacular where karters from over 70 countries are expected to compete.
Stockinger finished a respectable 12th out of 36 karters on his first try.
According to Tom Stockinger, father of Marlon, the stakes between Marlon and Othmar will be raised a bit higher for the World Finals in Malaysia.
"If Marlon makes it to the podium, Othmar will cook him some tomato soup and, as an added bonus, shave his moustache, too," the elder Stockinger said.
