Perez seeks top driver award

Felix Perez of Alps Racing guns for a crucial win to complete his quest for the Driver of the Year award in the championship round of the 2008 Petron Grand Touring (GT) Championship tomorrow at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

Perez, also one of the country’s top drag racers, actually swept all the past three legs and will be going all out for the most important sweep in the GT 200 class of both the Sprint and the Main Enduro classes of this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Petron, San Mig Coffee, San Miguel Corporation, Denso, Yokohama, Fujitsu Ten Corporation of the Philippines, and PagCor Sports.

But it will not be easy though as he has to deal anew with former Asian Formula 3 driver Renan Morales, Nico Fernandez, fellow drag racer Danes Sarmiento and crowd favorite Gaby de la Merced.

In the last race, Morales wrested the lead on the second lap and controlled the tempo until the sixth when engine problems slowed him down, allowing Perez to secure the top spot all the way to the finish line.

Perez later teamed up with Mato Tan to claim victory in the Main Enduro, as Morales had to take the pit due to a damaged front fender that added to his woes.

 “There’s no reason to be complacent against these guys for they always grab every opportunity they could get to win,” said Perez. 

 “For sure, our rivals will really step up to deny me of the crown.  But hopefully, our set-up works well and I’ll do my best to wrap up the overall plum with a bang,” he added.

Among the other drivers out to stop Perez are Pocholo Paragas, Romeo Manuel and Raymond Conti.

Adding color to the race is the Classic Car championship featuring vintage luxury cars such as the Kharmann Ghia, the Alfa Romeo, the Mini Cooper, the Ford Escort, Volkswagen, the Lotus Replica, the Opel, the 1967 Porsche 912 and the 1965 Porsche 911.

Among the drivers joining the event are Carlos Castaneda, parading his vintage Volkswagen, Inaki Araneta and his BMW 740 and Alessandro Coronel aboard his Kharmann Ghia,

The other competing drivers are Danny Kawpeng on his Ford Escort, Louis Camus aboard his Lotus Replica, Sandy Coronel with his Kharmann Ghia, Bubi Camus aboard his Opel, Willy Ortiz who will be parading his Alfa Romeo, Noy Yao aboard a 1965 Porsche 911, and Romy Mercado with his Mini Cooper.

For details, interested parties may log on at www.batangasracingcircuit.com or contact the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o BRC Operations Manager Rodini Rivera or Nelson Gayola at (632) 817-2241, 729-5365 or fax 815-1241 for further details.