Gaddi stretches win streak

MANILA, Philippines - His astounding driving skills in full display, Christian Gaddi of the JeT Racing Team extended his winning run in the mini-ROK division of the 2009 Magnolia Super Karting Series at the Boomland Track of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City.

Fresh from a victorious stint in the Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC) in Indonesia, Gaddi crushed the challenge of his rivals using his impeccable driving skills and technique en route to the win in the final race.

Gaddi took second spot in the pole positioning at the start of the final race, but grabbed the lead in no time, finishing the 16-lap race flawlessly and capturing the win that widened his series-leading margin by 37 points (406) over Kali Carcel’s 369.

But Gaddi’s most impressive showing by far for the day was not in the race that he won.

A Grade 4 student of Claret School in Quezon City, the diminutive Gaddi actually took the pole position in the pre final, but he nearly spun out of the track during the eighth of the 12-lap, nine-driver race. Gaddi avoided colliding with a wayward novice karter during the lap and found himself in the grassy sidelines.

But the two-time Golden Wheel and Automobile Association of the Philippines Karter of the Year was not disheartened. He nonchalantly returned to the track and gave the field a big chase.

With only four remaining laps to go and a big gap staring ahead of him, Gaddi, who is backed by Bingo Bonanza, Birel and Industria, managed to finish a close second.

“Had it been another karter, he wouldn’t have made it back to the track. That karter would have been a “DNF” (did not finish),” said Gaddi’s mom Teena. “But Christian showed his champion’s spirit using his veteran smarts and driving skills and he was even able to finish second.”

All of these experience and racing techniques will be put to good use when Gaddi joins a higher level of competition in October in Lonato , Italy , where he is among those who will represent the Philippines against the best karters in the world.

 “Gaddi’s skills and racing tactics will be tested, and with the kind of performance he that he is showing lately, I know he won’t disappoint,” added Gaddi’s mother, who also thanked Albee Benitez, Mandy Reyes, his son’s JeT Racing teammates, crew, tuner Kuya Omel and Claret School for the wholehearted support.