A stake in the ground
There is an oft-quoted idiomatic expression: “A stake in the ground.”
It speaks of a firm commitment to an objective.
AAP is clear on what it should do to delight our members. It is all about value creation beyond Emergency Roadside Service (ERS).
Our primary objective of creating more value for members is evolving. From being known for our ERS to now providing the best price for insurance products, family travel intervention, the issuance of International Driving Permits, and competition driving licenses.
More value-creation programs are in the works. We also launched a volunteer initiative for road safety programs and motor sports. I was surprised that in the first month alone, more than 200 people signed up as road safety volunteers.
One area where we need more resources and energy is the promotion of motor sports. While we have done much in providing race marshals, the issuance of competition driving licenses, and looking into the safety of the track, I felt there was a need to do more.
During the opening ceremonies of the Manila International Auto Show as well as at the 28th AAP Motor Sport Awards Night, I spoke of a new commitment to motor sports.
I made a public commitment to directing financial and human resources towards Rally Cross races.
It has been over a year since I have done immersion work in understanding the different stages of motor sports. It is time for AAP to act!
I saw that a lot of young people start out in karting, graduate into slalom and circuit racing, rally cross, and then eventually into full-stage Rally.
Sadly, the fall-out ratio is in the shape of a pyramid. A lot of starts but very few get to the top of the pyramid. The cost and the changing interest of those who enter motor sports is the culprit.
What, then, should we do?
AAP must implement a five-year development plan for motor sports. The end goal is to see more podium finishes for Filipino drivers in international competitions. We have Mandy Eduque, at the helm of Motor Sports, we have Rikki Dy-Liaco, we have Mark Desales, our CEO who, without much prodding, will put on his racing helmet. We have the brain trust to pull this off. Careful planning and execution will bring back the glory days for Filipino drivers and teams.
In the Rally Cross Event organized by Olson Camacho, we have started to make our presence felt.
Logistically, we see AAP starting to escalate the level of “real involvement”.
The first step is to increase awareness and interest in motor sports. We have to build a significant audience. We want one million people watching the races on Facebook live or on our website. Our social media experts are training their guns at achieving this level of viewership in the shortest possible time.
That kind of audience will attract sponsors. This sponsorship money is important for the development of the racing team. An internationally competitive car should be developed by the teams. A car that has all the bells and whistles it needs to outperform our foreign competitors.
Our young drivers need advanced driving skills to drive such a car. They have to sit in race schools abroad to improve their theoretical and practical knowledge. We will find the money to make this happen. If the level of local competition is at par with what is in international racing, then I can say success is only a when, not a how.
We have driven a stake in the ground, we are committed to it!
By Joe Ferreria, AAP President
