AUTS racing puts up big show in karting

AUTS Racing put up a big show in Cebu behind team captain Indy Villalon and Andres Calma recently in the third leg of the 2008 Shell Helix Karting Super Series at the Kart Zone in Mabolo, Cebu City.

Villalon delivered another 1-2 finish in the Formula SL Expert class together with runner-up Bobby Domingo as he led another big haul for AUTS Racing sponsored by Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. - Gatorade, Magnolia Pure Drinking Water, Accel Sports Apparel, Kiplings, Birel Racing Karts, Yamaha Winforce, Kart Care Lubricants, Freeline, GoKartGlobal.com, AUTS International, Hoddies Jackets and Eats Amore.

Calma, son of PBA great Hector Calma, marked his first triumph in the ROK Junior Novice class, pulling off a big upset over Joey Orduna though he’s still adjusting to a much faster ROK Junior engine.

It was the second straight triumph in the eight-leg series and the first for Villalon on the highly technical and treacherous Kart Zone where he outshone a stellar cast of 20 drivers including two-time Karter of the Year Matteo GUidicelli.

The victory installed Vilallon in the overall leadership in the class with the fastest laptime of 27.249 seconds before wrapping up the 28-lap final race in 12 minutes, 28.3 seconds.

Domingo checked in two seconds later, as he steadily stuck close to Villalon and checked in second in 12:30.5 or 13 seconds ahead of Guidicelli.

Calma checked in fifth but vented his ire in the ROK Junior Novice division where he actually finished third in the combined race with the Expert drivers clocking 9:47.7.

Also making big strides for AUTS Racing were Joseph and John Castelar who made it second and third in the Formula SL Novice division and Michael Fox who ended third in the Formula SL Heavy class.  

Despite starting from the back, Fox was able to weave his way through heavy traffic and pass six other karters as he finished behind champion Francis Reyes and Cebuano runner-up Kaine Gandionco.