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Gaby de la Merced doesn’t really need to break her back to earn a living. After all, she has made a name for herself in the racing circuit. She is the only Filipino woman who had competed in the full season of the Asian Formula 3 circuit (National Driver’s Championship) in 2006 and finished second overall champion. And considering she had only been racing professionally for a little over five years.

These days, Gabrielle Chanel de la Merced (that’s her birth name) wants to explore other fields and try other opportunities. While racing has not confined her life to the tracks with endorsement deals (shampoo and conditioner, car accessories, sporting outfits, among others), she believes that life can be further enriched with experiences in other areas, television for example.

Although she’s no neophyte in the medium (she even won an award from the Philippine Movie Press Club’s Star Awards for TV last year as Best Lifestyle Show Host which she shared with co-hosts Raymond Gutierrez, Tim Yap, and Issa Litton), she wants a more regular, if not massive exposure, on television, either as a program host or a performer.

“I am willing to do anything as I am told,” she said over lunch at Annabel’s recently. “In fact, I have been attending workshops in preparation for assignments in the future.”

Gaby is being co-managed by Girlie Rodis and Star Magic, the talent management arm of ABS-CBN. She has just wrapped up work on Gaby’sextraordinaryfiles aired every Sunday before Asap.

While waiting for her next turn on TV, the racer is dabbling into other sports. According to Gaby being an athlete in the Olympics is one of her dreams, and in the past, she was even willing to engage in other sports just so she could get that chance. But motor sports is her true calling.

“Racing gives me a big sense of freedom, the world is yours, kaya mo lahat-lahat,” she said.

Even if she comes from a broken family, she doesn’t show any signs that the breakup of her parents has affected her outlook in life. She says, “Life exists to make people happy.”

A bona fide sports enthusiast, Gaby also plays flag football and ultimate disc when she has the time. During her younger years, she was a part of the basketball team of her school both in grade school and high school. She regularly trains in capoera (Brazilian martial arts).

Gossip columnists have been trying to link her romantically with fellow Star Magic talent and friend Diether Ocampo.

“We’re really friends, from way, way back. We share common interests in cars, but that’s about it,” she insisted.

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