Arsenio Laurel

Arsenio Laurel was a champion racing car driver from the Philippines. He was the first two time winner of the Macau Grand Prix, winning it consecutively in 1962 and 1963. He died in the same race because of an accident in November 19, 1967.

He was the first casualty of the Macau Grand Prix. Eyewitness account revealed that Dodjie, after his Lotus 41 skidded out of control, he tried to avoid hitting some spectators by driving the car into the sea wall. The crash caused his car to burst in to flame, leaving him trapped inside his car.

Dodjie died at a tender age of 35 years old.

Perhaps the greatest Filipino racing driver ever, Dodjie was truly a pioneer in the development of Philippine motorsport. He was among the first champion racer of the early years of racing in the Philippines, driving his 1954 Studebaker on the oval of Sta. Ana Race track (when the horses were not running) in the first organized auto races. A licensed helicopter pilot, he also excelled in karting and drag racing. In the mid 60s, he was also known to TV viewers as the first host of the Motoring News,now the longest running Filipino TV show about the motoring industry.

His success in the Asian racing scene in the 60's earned him an invitation to race with a European team which he politely declined.

Dodjie is the scion of the prominent political family in the Philippines.His father was the Philippine president during the Japanese occupation while his brothers served the country as Vice President, House Speaker,senator and congressmen. A lawyer by profession, he was the youngest of nine children. He was born on December 14,1931.

Dodjie was considered by his contemporaries as a true gentleman, on and off the track.

Philippine Motorsports never had a champion of his caliber and stature ever since.

External links

[http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=146 Memorial]