Local bets brace for duel vs Asia’s top karters

MANILA, Philippines - Local ace karters gear up for a battle royale against the region’s best as action in the Asian Karting Open Championships fires off May 17 at the Carmona Racetrack in Brgy. Bangkal, Carmona, Cavite.

Vencer John Suba and brothers Milo and Estefano Rivera will lead the hunt for top honors in the annual five-leg series sanctioned and approved by the world governing Commission Internationale de Karting- Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (CIK-FIA). The Philippine leg is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.

Suba captured the 2012 Karter of the Year award but took the 10th Golden Wheel Driver of the Year award.

Milo Rivera bagged the KF2 crown last year and was likewise feted as the International Senior Karter of the Year while Estefano Rivera emerged as the karter with the most awards won in a single season – four – including the 2012 Junior Karter of the Year, 2012 International Junior Karter of the Year, 2012 KF3 Champion and the 2012 ROK Junior Champion.

The troika will be gunning for the Formula 125 Open Seniors crown along with back-to-back Coca-Cola Karting winner 15-year-old Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillieri, Formula-E Racing ace karters CJ Tsui and Bobby Domingo and top female karter Sacha Feliciano.

A new breed of junior aces will be vying for the Formula 125 Open Juniors title, headed by Raymond Cudala of Tough Gear, Jaz Monzones of Formula-E Racing, SEAOIL-DC-Kilton karter Gabe Tayao-Cabrera, Wayne Norman Darvin of Total Racing, Brian Thorp of AUTS Racing and Arthur “AT” Tuason of TRS Karting Kids as they go up against tough Singaporean rivals Jon Lee Xuan and Gabriella Teo Yu Ting of Kart Master Drakar Racing Team Singapore.

Eight local karters join the battle for the Asian Mini-ROK crown, led by defending Philippine champion Flynn Jackes and Wils Casequin of TRS Karting Kids, Tai Zulberti  of CityKart, Stephen Taylor of One Racing, Dylan Arambulo of Tough Gear Racing, Jacob Ang of Eagle Cement Racing Team, Mikey Jordan and Sean Draeco McLelland.

The other titles to be disputed are the Formula Cadet Novice and Expert, SQ Novice, SQ Expert, SQ Veteran, Yamaha Expert and Yamaha Novice crowns.