MANILA, Philippines - Clinching the coveted Golden Wheel International Driver of the Year award came as a fitting finale to Juha Turalba’s successful campaign last season, and will serve as big morale booster in facing tougher challenges of the coming new karting season.
The win came as a big surprise for the 15-year-old Turalba, the Ready2Race ace driver and a ninth grade student of International School-Manila who did not expect to upstage more experienced contenders – NAMSSA Motocross champion Kenneth San Andres, Superbikes champion Maico Buncio and even comrade Karter of the Year Stefano Marcelo.
The Golden Wheel Board of Judges gave more weight on Turalba’s feat as the Asian ROK champion than Marcelo and Buncio’s experiences competing in highly prestigious events in Europe and the US .
“This is the sweetest feat so far in my racing career,” said Turalba who’s backed up by 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 came as a big surprise that really more than made up for all the agonies and hardwork last season. I’ll treasure this great recognition from the Golden Wheel Organizers and will serve as my inspiration for this year’s campaign. This award is for my parents, my sponsors and all who believed in me,” he added.
Though it was only his first year in the Senior division, Turalba wrapped up the 2008 karting season with a big harvest winning all the five legs of the Asian Karting Open Championship to capture the Asian ROK Senior plum aside from bagging the overall runner-up honors in the Formula 125 Open and the ROK Senior classes of the local karting series.
Just recently, he wound up fourth and sixth in the first two rounds of the 2009 PAGCOR Sports KF2-KF3 series.
This year, he will again banner Ready2Race’s title quest in the ROK division and will work on his title defense in the Asian Karting Open Championship aside from other international competitions like the World ROK Championship in Lonato, Italy and the coming World Championship of Karting in Macau this October.
“Although the Golden Wheel Award puts more pressure on me, I’ll work really hard not just to prove myself but most of all deliver more honors for the country in international competitions,” Turalba added.