Coseteng back, sweeps Phl grand touring races

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled champ Jody Coseteng of Eagle Cement came back strong from two costly mishaps, sweeping both races in the fourth leg of the 2013 Yokohama Philippine Grand Touring Car Championships at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga recently.

Coseteng’s twin wins netted him 60 points for the day, wresting back the lead in the GT 300 class with a total of 140 points for a six-point lead over Oil Racing’s Peter Kim, who dropped to second with 134.

Coseteng drove just good enough to beat the field and secure the victory that more than made up for his recent back-to-back setbacks in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by official oil Petronas Lubricants, official tires Yokohama, and media partners Racing Beat@Wave 89.1 and Inside Motoring on DZRJ 810khz.

Taysan, Batangas Mayor Dondon Portugal, winner of the last leg, stayed within distance in the early going but failed to catch up on Coseteng, who pulled away in the ensuing laps.

In the Sprint race, Portugal couldn’t keep pace with Coseteng, settling for third place ahead of Willy Torres as Kim caught up with him in the sixth lap and claimed the runner-up honors.

Portugal put up a tough stand in the GT Main race, seizing control in the first two laps before Coseteng surged ahead and sped away.

With Coseteng way out in front, Portugal kept his place in second throughout the 15-lap race, finishing 4.377 seconds behind the champion.

Kim came in third while Arnel Carlos and Allen Macaraig checked in fourth and fifth, to clinch the GT200 and GT130 crowns, respectively.

Newcomer Edwin Rodriguez also swept both the Sprint and GT Main races to pocket the GT100 crown over Walter Zamora.

Japanese Teraki Yoshida ruled the Formula Winds Cup over compatriot Kazutoshi Narita and South Korean Sung Joon Park.

Sharing the limelight were Bernard Sy and Brian Bautista, who dominated the Philminiracers Classic Mini Racing 2013 and the VW KaFER CUP Pilipinas 2013, respectively.

Sy copped the Open Pro crown over Rodney Caballero and Marvin Enriquez as he joined Philminiracers Classic Mini Racing 2013 winners Borgy Zoleta, who topped the Expert class over Ferdie Raquelsantos and Rudy Bunag; Raniel Ortiz, who won the Junior division over Anthony Jose and Rina Pilao; and Aries Padiernos, who emerged the Newbie champion over Ron Tolentino and Jonel Mallari.

Bautista bagged the Class A crown of the VW KaFER CUP Pilipinas 2013 over Rudy Bunag and Reuven Locson with Dino de Jesus took the Class B title over Dexter Daquigan and Ferdinand Rasonable

Ranies Bagaporo topped the Division 2 of the Sparco Bracket Circuit Racing over Darwin Puno and Lowie Jean Panlican in heavy rains, forcing race officials to cancel the Division 1 race.

Meanwhile, the next race is set Sept. 22 at the Batangas Racing Circuit. For details, contact Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 729-72 41-42, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766, or 0922-8858410.