Rivera brothers dominate Asian karting open tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Racing brothers Milo and Estefano Rivera of FERN-C Racing dominated their foreign rivals to rule the second leg of the 2012 Asian Karting Open Championship at the Carmona Racetrack in Carmona, Cavite over the weekend.

Both students of Don Bosco-Makati, the Riveras regained Phl’s domination in the Asian region with impressive victories in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines. Milo led a 1-2 finish for Phl in the premiere Formula 125 Open Senior class while Estefano topped the Formula 125 Open Junior race, crediting their Rubeni-tuned Kart Plaza Racing engines for their feats.

Milo rallied from the tailend to the top as he towed compatriot Franco Reyes of Industria Racing to the podium, beating Indonesian aces Senna Sulaiman Noor and Gabriel Arcaradine.

Gaining the pole position after topping the qualifying heats, Milo led in the early going of the Pre-Final race but spun out of the race with six laps to go.

Starting at 20th in the Final race, he staged a daring rally that moved him to third place after the first six laps just before the action was stopped due to heavy rains.

When race resumed, Milo sustained his pace and took the lead from the two Indonesians in the next two laps following a risky maneuver at the outer lane.

Reyes, who was also way behind at the start, followed suit and played an instrumental role in Milo’s breakaway, joining the mix-up with the Indonesians to move up to second.

From there, Milo held on to his post and completed 26 laps of racing in 25 minutes and 12.361 seconds while Reyes came in 4.072 seconds later to seal the Philippines’ 1-2 finish in the premiere class of the event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and sponsored by Yokohama the official tires, Coca-Cola, Sparco, Vivere the official home of Asian karters, Motorstar and Aeromed.

Noor and Arcaradine ended third and fourth, respectively, while another Filipino, Christopher Joseph “CJ” Tsui of Industria Racing, who ruled the Pre-Final race, wound up fifth.

For his part, Estefano dictated the tempo in the Final race to clinch his second straight Formula 125 Open Junior crown in this Philippine round of the five-leg series.

Estefano grabbed the top spot from Cebuano Jette Calderon of Industria Racing early in the Final Race and controlled the pace the rest of the way, wrapping up 22 laps of racing in 20 minutes and 2.418 seconds or nearly 10 seconds ahead of Calderon.

Darma MH of Indonesia checked in third while Raymond Cudala of FERN-C Racing and Jon Lee of Singapore wound up fourth and fifth, respectively.

Indonesia stole the show in the Mini-ROK division with Barichelo Noor and Keanon Santoso taking the top two honors.

The Philippines’ Flynn Jackes of TRS-Castrol Kids, who won the Mini-ROK crown in the Macau kickoff, previously held the lead but committed a crucial lapse that allowed the Indons to overtake.

Arthur “AT” Tuason of TRS-Castrol Kids swept the Pre-Final and Final races to capture the Formula Cadet Expert crown over runner-up Tai Zulberti of CityKart, third placer Dylan Arambulo of SEAOIL-Kart Wreckers and TRS-Castrol Kids teammate Wils Casequin.

EJ Coseteng, son of touring car champ Jody, took the Formula Cadet Novice plum over Francis Tanlu of AUTSRacing, third placer Sean Draeco McLelland of SEAOIL-Kart Wreckers and Jose Luigi Lachica of One Racing.