Floirendo to firm up GT series overall crown

MANILA, Philippines - Vincent Floirendo goes all out to extend his reign in the fifth leg of the Yokohama Philippine GT Championship Series unfolding this weekend at Clark International Speedway in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Floirendo, a touring car veteran, swept the first four legs of the series, battling back from the tailend of the 16-man reverse grid order of the GT Main race to pull off the win.

Running at 2:10.853 seconds, Floirendo surged past his rivals to wrest the lead at the first turn. He then pulled away from the pack and built a 34-second margin at the end of the 15-lap race.

He now tallies 220 points as he firmed up his bid for the overall crown and the GT300 title over defending champion William Tan in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) and sponsored by official tires Yokohama Philippines, Enersel Forte, official pace car Honda Cars-Kalookan, Rota Wheels, and Racing [email protected].

Among his other rivals for the GT300 honors are Veli-Matti Kaikkonen, Ramil Madriaga and Dennis Uy of SEAOIL-Velocity Motors.

Also on tap are the Vitz Cup, Miata Cup, the Mini-Cooper and the 2011 Manila Sports Car Club (MSCC) Vintage Sports Car Racing events.

Also favored in the race are Dwight Kevin Carlos in the GT200 class up against his father Arnel Carlos and Leo San Juan; Alvin Ng of Tuason Racing in the GT130 class against teammates Sean Redpath and Ding Dizon, Efren Laviña and Nueva Ecija-native Dean Joson; and Marc Peter Thomann in the GT100 division.

The Vitz Cup will be another thrilling battle of young and veteran drivers where young guns Roby Benito and Juha Turalba try to keep their lead against drifting champion Audel Sison, Arvun Drueco, Glenn Aguilar, Oscar Aguilar and Sel-J CEO Jay Lacnit.

The 2011 Manila Sports Car Club (MSCC) Vintage Sports Car Racing features classic posh cars in intense action led by William Tan, Bobby Unson, Lito Ignacio, Danny Samaniego and Peter Lang.

Miata Cup will showcase such classic cars like the Opel, Kharmann Ghia, Toyota Selica, Mini Cooper, Alfa Romeo, Ford Escort, Volkswagen, Lotus Replica, the 1967 Porsche 912 and the 1965 Porsche 911 while the Mini-Cooper Race will be another unpredictable showdown among Arvin Monzon, Solomon Picache, Rudy Bunag, Rodney Caballero, Arvin Gervacio and Paolo Pangan.

For details, log on log on to www.brc-clarkspeedway.com and www.batangasracingcircuit.com or contact the BRC secretariat c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 845-0745 and 729-5365.