Five karters dispute Shell novice honors

STANDINGS:  FORMULA SL NOVICE – 1.  Joseph Castelar 332 pts.  2. Milo Rivera 316 pts 3. Brian del Val 299 pts.  4. John Castelar 263 pts. 5. RG Romero 261 pts.  FORMULA 125 OPEN SENIORS – 1.  Stefano Marcelo 500 pts.  2.  Juha Turalba 393 pts.  3.  Bobby Domingo 266 pts. ROK SENIORS – 1.  Stefano Marcelo 450 pts.  2.  Juha Turalba 341 pts.  3.  Bobby Domingo 273 pts FORMULA SL EXPERT – 1.  Indy Villalon 463 pts.  2. Andres Calma 349 pts.  3.  Bobby Domingo 326 pts.  FORMULA SL HEAVY – Joel Caniza 440 pts.  2.  Mike Fox  407 pts.  3.  JP Carino 261 pts.

Fresh from their stint in the Bangkok leg of the Asian Karting Open, the country’s top karters clash for supremacy when the 2008 Shell Helix Karting Super Series winds up this weekend at the Carmona Circuit Philippines.

Defending champion Stefano Marcelo is already assured of the back-to-back Karter of the Year plum, enjoying a wide margin in both the Formula 125 and the ROK Seniors.

Juha Turalba and Bobby Domingo of AUTS Racing have also secured the second and third places, respectively.

That shifts the battle in the Formula SL Novice, which stakes 75 points, with five karters fighting it out for top honors in the series sponsored by Shell Helix, Denso Iridium Power, PagCor Sports, Yokohama Tires, Motorstar Eastway Company and Aeromed Ambulance Transport.

Following his big win in the last leg, Joseph Castelar of AUTS Racing grabbed the solo lead in the Formula SL Novice with 332 points, needing another victory to wrap up the crown.

But out to foil his bid are Milo Rivera of Jet Racing, Brian del Val of Ready2Race, John Castelar of AUTS Racing and RG Romero of Jet Racing.

Rivera is second overall with 316 points while del Val, who won three of the past seven races, is in third with 299 points.

John Castelar is fourth with 263 while Romero is two points behind in fifth with 261.

While AUTS Racing skipper Indy Villalon has the Formula SL Expert plum in the bag, Andres Calma and Bobby Domingo dispute the runner-up honors.  Calma is second overall 349 points, 23 points ahead of Domingo.

Joel Caniza and Mike Fox are also expected to slug it out for the Formula SL Heavy title.  Caniza leads the series with 440 points or a 33-point advantage over Fox.

For details, contact Carmona Circuit Philippines c/o Rose Feria at 817-2241.