Sasaki lets foes bite dust in karting coup

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Daiki Sasaki taught Filipinos some lessons to ponder as he banked on experience to pull a big sweep recently in the second leg of the 2011 KF2-KF3 Cup Karting Series at the Carmona Racetrack.

Sasaki, a 19-year-old veteran of Formula Challenge in Japan and the Asia-Pacific Formula BMW, flashed impressive skills as he pulled away early from the pack and finished no less than six seconds ahead in both races.

He ruled the 20-lap Race 3 clocking 13 minutes, 59.595 seconds with a fast laptime of 42.862 seconds as he made it a 1-2 finish for Kuwayama Racing together with Reo Takahashi who checked in 6.627 seconds later.

Defending champion and Filipino ace Stefano Marcelo of Maranello-San Miguel Corporation-Marcelo Racing saved the country from a shut-out as he came in third 10 seconds behind.

In Race 4, Sasaki set a consistent fastest laptime of 43.050 as he completed his sweep with a time of 14 minutes , 23.282 seconds or 9.018 seconds ahead.

Milo Rivera of Fern-C Racing unveiled a faked maneuver at the last turn that surprised Marcelo to snatch second place with five-laps to go and eventually claim the runner-up finish in 14:32.3 seconds.

Marcelo, using a three-year-old KF2 engine, tried hard to regain his post as he stuck close behind but eventually settled for third.

Kazuki Miyazawa and VJ Suba of FERN-C Racing, using a borrowed engine courtesy of Kart Plaza, wound up fourth and fifth, respectively, in both races.

The KF3 division saw FERN-C Racing bets Vrei-Ar Suba and Estefano Rivera dominating the 13-man field.

Suba, who’s also using an old engine from Kart Plaza, controlled the tempo from start to top the 15-lap Race 3 in 10:7.626.

Rivera unveiled an amazing rally from 12^th place, passing one driver after another until he wrested second on the 11^th lap to make it a 1-2 finish for FERN-C Racing.

Japanese Marino Sato of Aran Racing checked in close third while CJ Tsui of Ready2Race-Tuason Racing and Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier ended fourth and fifth respectively.

Race 4 saw Rivera quickly wresting the pole position at the start and preserved his post from thereon to claim the chequered flag in 11 minutes and 2.080 seconds.

Suba made it another 1-2 finish for the team as he checked in 1.364 seconds behind while Sato consistently finished third.

Jaz Monzones of Natmo Asia-GP1 Racing took fourth place while Cebuano Jette Calderon of Jet Racing, who ruled Race 1 last month, ended fifth.

For more info, interested parties may call the Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 817-2241 or visit the website www.asiankarting.com.