RP karters battle star-studded foreign cast

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines plays host to Asia’s best karters vying for the titles at stake in the forthcoming 2009 Asian Karting Open Championship Series and Magnolia Pure Water Karting Super Series set July 17-19 at the Carmona Circuit Philippines.

Over 70 karters from eight countries will be competing in the event sponsored by Magnolia Pure Water, Petron, San Miguel Corporation, Pagcor Sports, Denso Iridium Power, Palmer Asia Inc., Vivere Hotel, Red White Racing of Indonesia owned by Stanley Iriawan, Aeromed, Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Tourism.

Aside from host Philippines, the other countries competing in the event sanctioned by the world governing CIK and Automobile Association Philippines are Macau, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Hongkong.

Participants will be disputing the titles in the Baby ROK, Mini-ROK, Yamaha Cup Junior, Yamaha Cup Senior, Rotax Max (Junior, Senior and Veteran), ROK Senior, ROK Junior, Formula 125 Open Junior and the Formula 125 Open Senior.

Spearheading the foreign challenge is defending Asian Karting King Tin Sritrai of Thailand and Ryan Anthony Monoarfa of Indonesia who will be going up against the Philippines’ reigning Asian ROK champion Juha Turalba of Ready2Race in the premiere Formula 125 Open Senior class.

The Thai champ will be backed up by Simon Racing teammate Pasin Lathoras while Monoarfa, who has seen action in the Philippine leg for the past five years, will get his support from GO-Serge Motorsport teammates Sean Ricardo Gelael, and Andi Aviandha Triana Jakile.

Sritrai ruled the the Macau kickoff leg but shares the lead with Juha Turalba toting 35 points after the Filipino ace topped the pre-final race and ended second in the Final race.

Macau’s Joao Carlos Afonso took third place while Hongkong bets Vica Chong and Chan Kai To wound up fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Philippines hauled three titles, two runners-up and a third place finish in the kickoff leg and expects a tight showdown against Indonesia, which emerged the winningest team with bagging four of the 10 titles at stake.

Aside from Monoarfa, the other top Indonesian drivers coming in are Denzel Sofyan in the ROK Junior, Andhika Sasabone in the Rotax Max Junior, Victor Wijaya Susilo in the ROK Senior and Presley Martomo in the Mini-ROK.

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