MANILA, Philippines - Jan Asuncion unveiled his strong intentions for the crown when he ruled the kickoff leg of the 2009 San Mig Coffee-Yokohama Philippine GT Championships recently at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas.
Asuncion grabbed the lead on the eighth lap aboard his Honda Civic and pulled away from thereon to claim victory in the main race of this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, San Mig Coffee, Yokohama, Aeromed and Pagcor.
He clocked 32 minutes, 15.209 seconds in the 16-lap race to prevail over Monty Buhay’s Mitsubishi Lancer GSR and third placer William Tan in the GT 200 division.
Tan controlled the tempo at the start but Asuncion repeatedly challenged him, steering too close for comfort until Tan’s car bogged down on the sixth lap.
Asuncion pulled ahead and gained distance every lap thereon before checking in by a far 26.195 seconds ahead of Paul Henderson Perez, who eventually captured the GT 125 crown over runner-up Nicolo Fernandez
It was one big comeback win for Asuncion, who earlier struggled against the more experienced Tan in the 12-lap sprint race.
Asuncion hardly got close enough to challenge Tan, who drove smoothly coast-to-coast to win the GT 200 plum in 22:44.926 or 21.533 seconds ahead.
Monty Buhay and Angelo Parugganan ended third and fourth in the GT 200 class.
Perez checked in third overall as he also ruled the GT 125 with a time of 23:40.634 over Nicolo Fernandez.
Sharing the limelight was Emayrson Manaog, who also swept both the sprint and main race of the GT 300 class over Antonio Moncupa.
For full results and details, log on to www.batangasracingcircuit.com or call up the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 817-2241, 729-5365 or fax 815-1241