Gaddi sweeps Mini-Rok races in karting series

MANILA, Philippines - JeT Racing star Christian Gaddi, aching to prove that he’s the undisputed Mini-Rok master, stuck to his usual kart setup and turned the Batangas Racing Circuit into his virtual playground as he toyed with his rivals in the 2010 Magnolia Purewater Karting Super Series via another sweep of the races.

The 11-year-old Gaddi had a slight bump during the last leg of the series when he lost by a hair the final race of the Mini-Rok Class.

But making sure not to lose in his favorite category again, Gaddi, who is backed by Bingo Bonanza and Industria, easily won the qualifying heat, the pre-final and final races with plenty to spare, shoving runner-up Basti Escalante, third placer Carl Pollington and his other rivals scrambling behind his trail.

“He wanted to prove that he’s the best in the Mini-Rok class and he achieved that with these wins,” said Gaddi’s mother Teena. “For a competitor this young, his drive to win was really amazing. That’s one trait that is going to be useful in his succeeding competitions.”

Gaddi, who also took part in a higher class – the KT Novice – nearly achieved the same feat after ruling the qualifying and pre-final races.  

The incoming Grade 5 student of Claret School was in fourth position in the qualifying heat, but eventually grabbed the lead after only two laps. He kept his hold on the top spot all the way to the finish to take the pole position for the pre-final, which he also ruled by a huge gap over his older opponents.

In the final heat, Gaddi again led the 10-lap, 12-man race until a mistake in the latter part forced him to overshoot the track, allowing Joseph Rojo to overtake him and eventually win the race.