DEATH has overtaken one of the Philippines’ biggest racing stars.
Ferdinand 'Enzo' Pastor was fatally shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen at a Quezon City intersection shortly before midnight last Thursday.
Police said the 32-year old race driver was driving an Isuzu tow truck that was hauling an Asian V8 stock car to the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga when the suspects, riding in tandem on a motorbike, pounced on him at the corner of Congressional and Visayas Avenues.
Witnesses said the gunmen shot Pastor in the head after he emerged from the tow truck to check on his cargo. Also wounded in the attack was a certain Paulo Salazar, who was seated in the pasenger seat. The suspects fled after the incident.
Pastor sustained gunshot wounds on the head, neck and arms and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died while undergoing treatment. Salazar was also treated for a grazing wound.
The cause and motive for the shooting has yet to be determined and the suspects, one of whom was reported wearing a facemask, yet to be identified.
Pastor was the first Filipino to participate in the NASCAR Whelen Euroseries Open Championship race circuit. He also took part in the Asian Formula 3 where he raced in the Macau Grand Prix. His last race series took place in the recently concluded Asian V8 Championship organized by his father Tom.
Pastor is also remembered as an active proponent of grassroots racing via his local Circuit Showdown series.
Messages of condolences and support have poured in on Pastor’s Facebook page and on Twitter. His last post were several photos of the ongoing BMG Circuit Showdown and the AV8 Championship which he shared on Independence Day on Thursday.
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
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