Filipino-American karting champion Arion Crosby is steering into unfamiliar territory. The 17-year-old racer, already known for his success on the karting circuit, is now setting his sights on a parallel track: acting and entertainment, while keeping his motorsports ambitions firmly intact.
Crosby is being managed by Neil de Guia, the talent manager who previously introduced actor Jake Cuenca to the industry. De Guia sees familiar potential in the young athlete.
“When I first saw him, he very much reminded me of the young Jake Cuenca, same height, same build, also a mestizo,” de Guia said during a recent media junket introducing the newcomer. “We’ve been convincing him to try showbiz for years now, and then I guess he listened to his mom and agreed.”
During the junket, the showbiz newbie maintained that he is not abandoning racing, instead, he’s just expanding his horizons during the off-season.
“I actually don’t know much about show business, particularly local show business,” he said in an interview with Manila Standard Entertainment. “Since it is off-season and it will be a while before my next competition, I will give the same drive, passion, and discipline to showbiz. I do believe I will be able to manage my time.”
Crosby said he looks up to actor James Reid while also drawing parallels with the career path of Mateo Guidicelli, who also transitioned between sports and entertainment.
“Not following in his footsteps specifically, but we have the same path, and I look up to him. His career inspires me and it influenced my decision,” he went on.
He admits, however, that the entertainment world is still largely unfamiliar to him.
“I actually don’t know much about show business, particularly local show business,” he said. “But I’ve done workshops when I was younger and a photoshoot internationally.”
His early plans are careful. Instead of going straight into acting, Crosby wants to start with modeling and keep training. He also wants to explore music, saying he is open to a softer style.
“I can sing. I like R&B,” he said succinctly.
Despite his new pursuits, Crosby remains firmly grounded in racing, where he has already built a strong reputation. He is a multiple-time winner in the Rotax Max Challenge Philippine Series and has been competing since the age of five.
“The sport can teach valuable lessons about discipline and focus to young people,” he said. “It’s helped me develop a sense of caution and focus, which is important not only on the track but also in life. It also teaches me how to manage my time between studying and training.”
Crosby has long been inspired by Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and continues to chase a dream that remains firmly parked on the horizon: becoming the first Filipino driver in Formula One.
“I’m aiming to be the first Filipino to reach Formula 1,” he asserted.
