Anton champ of champs in circuit racing

MANILA, Philippines - Yokohama-Castrol-Mark Young driver Carlos Anton proved himself the best among the best following his huge victory in the recently concluded Champion of Champions “C’O”C” race held at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

All 14 champions of Circuit Showdown vied for the prestigious distinction using the same Ford Focus car, including Anton who faced the biggest disadvantage being made the last driver to set a time.

Anton, however, lived up to the challenge and drew loud cheers as he posted the day’s fastest laptime of 4 minutes, 4.754 seconds, upstaging the two previous best clocking by runner-up former Formula 3 driver Philip Alvendia (4:06.611) and third placer Marc Thomann (4:08.676).

“This was a very fun race for me since we all used the same car, on the same day, around the same track and we were lucky to win it!,” Anton said after his win.

Experience, and not luck, played the biggest role in this milestone feat since Anton has been unbeaten for the past 22 years in the Philippine competitions where champion drivers use the same car.

Among the races of this nature Anton has won include the Battle of Champions in 1991 and 1992, the Kia Challenge in Carmona in 1993,  the Chevy Cruze-Subic Last Lap Shootout in 2009, the Philippine Autocross Championship Shootout in 2009,  the C! Tarmac Challenge in 2010, and now this Champion of Champions race in 2012.

In similar international competitions, Anton won first place in Italy at the Ferrari-owned Verano racetrack in 2004 and third in the Asia Zone Championships in Taiwan in 2005 only losing to then 12-time all-Japan champion Tetsuya Yamano and compatriot Masaki Nishihara.

Anton now sets his sights on representing the Philippines at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the US early next year at the NASCAR Spirit Cup alongside the country‘s best drivers led by Mike Potenciano, Stefano Marcelo, Tyson Sy, Pia Boren and Gabby de la Merced.