Jackes makes mark in Asian karting series

MANILA, Philippines - Flynn Jackes overcame tremendous odds and beat a tough field to capture the Mini-ROK crown in the kickoff leg of the Asian Karting Open Championship at the Kartodromo de Coloane Circuit in Macau recently.

The nine-year-old Jackes, one of the protégés of the Castrol Champions of the Future program last year, poured it all out in the final race to upstage better-equipped and more experienced foreign rivals for the crown.

He turned in the fastest laptime of 56.913 seconds, completing the abbreviated 11-lap final race in 10 minutes, 32.537 seconds.

The Fil-Aussie find edged Singaporean Darryl Wenas of Kartmaster by just 0.721 of a second while Indonesian Keanon Santoso of IS Racing Team placed third 1.455 seconds behind. 

“It was really unexpected. All we wanted was for Flynn to see what the competition is like abroad,” said coach Mike Tuason of Jackes, who emerged the top Filipino finisher through the backing of Castrol, Bridgestone, Standard Insurance, C! Magazine, OMP, Coke Zero, Oakley, Aguila and Toptul.

Jackes is now under the Tuason Racing School Race Career Management Program (TRS-RCMP) with the rigid training and preparations under Tuason, a multi-awarded race car driver, proved a big boost to his campaign in the event that brings together Asia’s best karters and provides them the experience and training for global competition. 

Tuason is also behind the career of champion karter and now circuit car driver 14-year-old Basti Escalante.

“But he was there hanging on amidst the tough ordeal and misfortunes. And for a first timer to beat seasoned rivals, Flynn showed exceptional talent and will to win beyond all odds to deliver that laurel for the country. We are very proud of his accomplishments just after a year of racing,” said Tuason.

Jackes was consistently among the top three during the open practice with a best time of 57.37 seconds and finished third overall in the qualifying time trials. 

He started third in Heat 1 but Jackes stuggled in the rain and slid to fifth. He moved up to second in Heat 2 running on a wet set-up even as the track was drying up and even grabbed the lead at the start of Heat 3 only to overshoot the track that had him crashing out to wind up at the tailend.

Based on his aggregate finishes in the qualifying heats, he started third on the grid in the Pre-Finals where karters strut their top form to gain better positions for the Final race. 

Jackes wrested the lead in Lap 3 but made a driving error on the last turn and settled for a second place finish.

Misfortunes continued to hound him in the Final race when a bad start dragged him down from second to fifth in the first lap. But he fought back and drove past his rivals gain the lead at the end of the third lap.

Defensive maneuvers kept the foreign rivals behind as race officials decided to hoist the red flag with three laps to go due to heavy rains.

“We believe he has a very bright future in motorsports and will be one of the best racers in his generation. But the hard work starts now, he has to be focused and determined to follow in the footstep of Marlon Stockinger, Michelle Bumgarner, maybe one day he will become an F1 Driver,” said Tuason.