MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos pulled a big sweep over the Japanese, thanks to former Karter of the Year Stefano Marcelo of Maranello-Marcelo Racing and Milo Rivera of Fern C-PCR Tough Gear Racing who split honors recently in the second leg of the 2010 Pagcor Sports KF2-KF3 Cup Series at the Clark International Speedway.
Marcelo stamped his class in the Race 3 to claim solo leadership in the KF2 class of this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Pagcor Sports and Aeromed.
Rivera, backed up by the Tyson Sy Foundation Inc., took the stage in the Race 4 despite running on a rented engine, as he emerged the very first young karter to pull a big upset over Marcelo.
The Japanese ended their first stint at the Clark International Speedway in frustration as Tsubasa and Reo Takahashi of Kuwayama Racing wound up sixth and eighth, respectively, in Race 3 and eighth and seventh, respectively, in Race 4.
VJ Suba of Fern C-PCR Tough Gear Racing took the early lead in Race 3 but Marcelo quickly grabbed the lead on the third lap and held on to his post from thereon.
Marcelo clocked 10 minutes and 52.331 seconds or 1.073 seconds ahead of Rivera who breezed his way up from fifth place with a fastest laptime of 58.981 seconds to claim the runner-up finish.
Juha Turalba of Ready2Race took third place while Andres Calma of Full Throttle Racing and Javi Benitez of Jet Racing wound up fourth and fifth.
But Rivera pulled the most impressive win of the day, leading the 11-lap race from coast-to-coast. Marcelo tried to inch closer as he jacked up a fast laptime of 59.050 seconds on the seventh lap.
However, Milo’s consistent defensive driving kept Marcelo from getting too close for comfort as he wrapped up the race in 10 minutes and 51.55 seconds or 0.305 seconds ahead of Marcelo who showed great sportsmanship extending his congratulations to Rivera.
Calma bagged third place while Turalba and Benitez finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
“To beat an icon is a great achievement. But what makes Stefano a greater icon was his gesture of extending his hands after the defeat that makes him truly a sportsman,” said Rivera.
Sharing the day’s honors were Christian Gaddi of Jet Racing and Basti Escalante of Ready2Race who split victories in the Mini-ROK Challenge.
Gaddi firmed up his hold of solo lead following his dominating triumph in Race 3 over runner-up Marc Meynet and Cebu lady karter Kali Carcel.
But Escalante took the limelight in Race 4 as he pulled a big dive midway en route to a big escape, winning the race in seven minutes and 43.085 seconds or just 0.031 of a second ahead of Gaddi.
For further details, interested parties may contact Carmona Circuit Philippines c/o Rose Feria at 817-2241.