Ready2Race karters finish season on top

Ready2Race karters gave their all in the finals, and capped a successful season with a champion trophy and four runners-up at the culmination of the 2008 Shell Helix Karting Super Series at the Carmona Circuit Philippines.

Joey Orduna, Roby Benito, Juha Turalba and Brian del Val displayed nerves of steel to deliver the goods for the Ready2Race team powered by Tuason Racing School, Golden Harvest Integrated Services & Shipping, BANPU, Barwil-Smith Bell Shipping, Rio-Tinto, FARM, FORD Batangas, Tony Kart, OTK kart parts, HJC Auto Helmets, Sparco Racing, AIM Racing gauges and Oakley Race Gear.

Orduna, 13, bagged the lone champion trophy for the team as he capped his campaign with another impressive sweep to capture the overall ROK Junior Novice Karter of the Year award.

He ruled the first two races ahead of Expert drivers and finished behind teammate Benito in the final race for the title clincher, clocking 18 minutes, 36.436 seconds.

With the sweep, he wrapped up the title with 494 points, a slim two points against Renz Pazcoguin (492).

Benito won the ROK Junior Expert class to claim the runner-up crown in the same class as well as the ROK Jr. overall class.

He clocked 18 :17.192 in the 20-lap race and even posted the fastest laptime of 44.728 to seal the sweep.

Juha Turalba, who recently bagged the overall Asian Karting ROK Seniors crown, had runner-up trophies in the ROK Senior and the Formula 125 Open Senior classes.

Del Val absorbed the biggest pressure as he struggled against four other strong title contenders before ending as the overall runner-up in the Formula SL Novice division.

The finals also saw a marked improvement in the performance of Jennifer and Joseph Tumambing who both ended third in the ROK Junior Novice and the Cadet 60, respectively, thus making them champion potentials for next season.

Basti Escalante also ended fourth in the Cadet 60 division.

“Our karters did great throughout the eight-leg series, giving their best in each race to come up with this successful harvest that inspired us to continue with our thrust of discovering and developing young potential racing champions,” said Ready-2-Race president Chito Benito.