Turalba has it all wrapped up in penultimate race

Stepping up for the country’s colors, Ready2Race top gun Juha Turalba unleashed his best in the final race to emerge the virtual overall Asian ROK Senior champion recently in the fourth leg of the 2008 Asian Karting Open Championship at the SC Motorsport Circuit in Saraburi, Thailand.

The 15-year-old Turalba, a ninth grade student of International School-Manila, captured his fourth straight ROK Seniors in the series with the big support of Tuason Racing School, Tony Kart, OTK kart parts, HJC Auto Helmets, Sparco Racing, AIM Racing gauges, Oakley Race Gear, Golden Harvest Integrated Services & Shipping, BANPU, Barwil-Smith Bell Shipping, Rio-Tinto, FARM and Ford Batangas.         

“It feels great to wrap up the Championship before the last race of the season. An Asian Championship title is something I worked hard for and I feel proud to have represented the Philippines in this endeavor,” Turalba said.

It was a big feat for Turalba, who survived the challenge of the treacherous 1.3-kilometer track against competitors from host Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Hongkong and Malaysia as he even bested four other KF1 drivers with more powerful engines. 

Posting the fastest laptime of 57.953 seconds, he wrapped up the 22-lap final race in 21 minutes, 39.735 seconds as he prevailed over highly favored local Thai ace Jonathan Reveille.

He started second in the ROK Senior final race behind Reveille but the Thai ace karter figured in the pile-up with the KF1 drivers, including RP champion Stefano Marcelo, on the first lap.

Turalba quickly grabbed the lead, and even as Reveille managed to immediately return to the race, Turalba gave his best, blazing at top speeds of 82.21 kph to preserve his post all the way to the finish line.

Turalba has 147 points including his previous wins in Macau, Philippines and Indonesia to assure himself of the overall crown even if he wouldn’t race in the championship leg in Macau next month.

“Twenty-two laps and very high temperatures made this a very difficult race to run. I had a great start by passing several karts and opening a gap from my closest rival,” said Turalba.

Having the title in the bag, Turalba plans to gain experience in the Formula 125 Open class driving a KF2 engine in the Macau championship in preparation for his title campaign next year.

But for now, Juha will focus his sights on clinching the overall runner-up crowns in both the ROK Senior and the Formula 125 Open in the championship round of the local Shell Helix Karting Super Series in Carmona this Saturday.