Miranda launches bid with karting win

MANILA, Philippines - Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier launched his drive for this year’s Karter of the Year award with an emphatic victory in the kickoff leg of the Coca-Cola Karting Super Series at the Carmona Racetrack in Cavite recently.

Miranda, 15, surprised the star-studded field and the crowd with a superb performance en route to winning both the ROK Senior and ROK Overall crowns in the event sponsored by Coca-Cola Philippines and Yokohama, and sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.

The Cebuano-French karter pressed his bid early, topping the time trials with 44.613 seconds and sweeping all three Qualifying, Pre-Final and Final races.

He finished more than six seconds ahead of Bobby Domingo of Formula E Racing and third placer Estefano Rivera of Tough Gear Racing. CJ Tsui of Formula E Racing and lady karter Sacha Feliciano checked in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Jaz Monzones, who also moved to Formula E Racing this season, copped the ROK Junior title over SEAOIL-DC-Kilton karter Gabe Tayao-Cabrera and Raymond Cudala of Tough Gear Racing.

Tayao-Cabrera also won both the ROK Clubman and Formula SL Novice crowns.

He bagged the ROK Clubman title over Lian Linao and Wayne Darvin of Total Racing and later pulled a bigger surprise as the Formula SL Novice champion when he topped the combined race, beating all the Formula SL Expert  drivers in the combined grid.