Marina Bay Circuit, Singapore–It was supposed to be a for-the-boys trip, but they decided to bring me along at the last minute. I gladly obliged, thinking of Singapore’s famous Jumbo Chili crabs (because, hello, priorities!)
I have been to other Grand Prix ( Melbourne and Shanghai races) before, but funny, I have never been to the Singapore Night Race, which has been running since 2008. But this Grand Prix attendance was special because we accompanied the Gulf X Tuason Racing Top Driver Challenge, Russel Reyes, along for the ride. Reyes, who bested 70 racing hopefuls for this seat, was about to see his racing dreams come true. 
Let me just give you a quick pit stop on Gulf Oil. Gulf, one of the most iconic names in motorsports, has a long history with Formula 1, partnering with teams like Williams Racing. Globally, they’re known for fueling innovation—literally and figuratively—in racing and road safety. They’re big on lubricants in the Philippines and have been operating since 2003.
Thanks to Gulf, we had an itinerary fit for any motorsport enthusiast’s dreams. A VIP shopping experience at the Williams Racing Team pop-up store? Check. A meet-and-greet with one of the drivers? Double-check.
Enter Alex Albon. Now, let me tell you, his F1 photos don’t do him justice. He was very charming. When I saw him, I couldn’t help but think, “He looks like Gede from Ticket to Paradise,” you know, the Julia Roberts and George Clooney movie? Albon is taller than I expected—over six feet—giving me hope that my 13-year-old son, who’s already 5’8”, might still have a shot at F1 stardom!
Albon, a Thai-British racer, has a unique career. His father was a racecar driver, so racing was in his blood. He debuted with Toro Rosso, caught the eye of Red Bull, and became Max Verstappen’s teammate. He secured a podium finish in 2020, but that was not enough to keep him in the team. He spent the year as a reserve driver in 2021 and later joined Williams Racing, where he’s been making waves. He’s one of those drivers who always seem to deliver more than what’s expected.
But the real star of this story is Russel Reyes. A boy from Bulacan started racing on a video game console and is now living every racing fan’s dream. Reyes earned his way behind the wheel and went to the Singapore GP by winning the Gulf X Tuason Racing Top Driver Challenge. Reyes also won the GT Cup and Autocross Challenge, giving him a seat in the Novice class in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Cup. He went from a sim racer to a bonafide racecar driver.
Michael Francisco, Gulf Oil Philippines’ GM, highlighted the importance of sending the Top Driver Challenge winner to the Singapore GP to witness motorsports excellence firsthand and to meet the Williams Racing Team. “By giving this opportunity, we aim to inspire him to strive for global excellence, mirroring the relentless pursuit of success that defines both Gulf and motorsports,” said Francisco. For them, this is Gulf’s commitment to fueling the ambitions of future racing talent and driving them toward world-class achievement.
It’s one of those “right place, right time” stories but also about Filipinos’ talent. The difference is that kids get much more support abroad when they say they want to be race car drivers. Here? Not so much. Reyes proves that anything is possible with determination, luck, and the right opportunity. Seeing Russel Reyes and Alex Albon together is the stuff of dreams—the beginning and the pinnacle. It also shows how grassroots racing programs like the Gulf Oil Top Driver Challenge and the Toyota GR programs are places where dreams do come true.
