Tiu survives duel with Cayco in third leg of Petronas racing

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Jonathan Tiu outduelled Teoofilo Edwin Cayco to capture the Quick 8 crown in the third leg of the Petronas Philippine Drag Racing Championship Northern Series at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga recently.

The win was the first Quick 8 triumph for Tiu of JCT-Blanche Racing in the Northern Series after a series of failed bids in the event. Tiu, in his Rurex Honda hatchback, completed his quarter-mile run in 10.397 seconds, or 0.524 of a second ahead of Cayco, of H3 Autoworks, who clocked a close 10.021 seconds.

William Hand and his crowd favorite “Blue Haze” ended up third.

Edison Cayco, also of H3 Autoworks, ruled the M&M Super Pro in 10.470 seconds, beating William Hand with Danes Sarmiento. It was also Tiu’s third victory in the national championship, further boosting his chances for an eighth national drag racing crown against Arvin Jay Millet, who failed to turn in a podium finish in both the M&H Pro and Yokohama Expert classes.

The event is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) and sponsored by Petronas, Yokohama, GT Radials, M&H Tires and media partner Racing Beat at Wave 89.1.

In the M&H Pro class, Millet bowed out in the first round but bounced back in the mainstream after clinching the wild card ticket in the loser’s circle. But Jonathan Young, also of JCT-Blanche Racing, booted him out then turned back former champion Martin Manalo of RSL Motorsports via a breakout to arrange a finals showdown with teammate Rommel Dural.

Dural eventually won the M&H Pro crown with an 11.267-second clocking with Young settling for second in 11.426. Manalo wound up third.

For details, contact the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 729-72 41-42, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766, Mobile # 0922 8858410 or like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/Batangas Racing Circuit.