Marcelo steers RP to overall Asian kart crown

CARMONA, Cavite – The Philippines again emerged the overall champion as it claimed  nine of the 14 titles at stake behind defending Asian Karting champion Stefano Marcelo, Juha Turalba, Renz Pazcoguin and Christian Gaddi Sunday at the close of the 2008 Asian Karting Open Championship at the Carmona Circuit Philippines.

Marcelo, 15, carrying the colors of Maranello-San Miguel Corp.-Marcelo Racing, survived the tough challenge of Malaysian ace karter Fahmi Ilyas to capture the premiere Formula 125 Open Seniors crown of this event sponsored by PagCor Sports, San Miguel Corp., Shell Helix, Denso Iridium Power, Palmer Asia, Department of Tourism and Vivere Hotel.

Turalba, the top gun of R2R-Tuason Racing, turned back runner-up Bobby Domingo of AUTS Racing and Thailand’s Jonathan Reveille to bag the ROK Senior crown.

Pazcoguin, who emerged runner-up to Junior champ Bryan Mehta, prevailed over Indonesian Senna Noor and AUTS Racing-San Miguel Corp.’s Andres Calma for the ROK Junior crown.

Gaddi, also of Jet Racing, copped his second Asian Cadet 60 crown following his overwhelming triumph over Gewiss Gabriel Dagasin and third placer Don Benedict Brizuela.

The other Filipino winners in this annual spectacle sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the Philippines were Brian del Val of R2R-Tuason Racing in both the Yamaha Cup Juniors and the Formula SL Novice; Indy Villalon of AUTS Racing in the Yamaha Cup Seniors and the Formula SL Expert class and Michael Fox in the Formula SL Heavy division.