Linao, Cudala run show

MANILA, Philippines - Fast-rising Lean Linao of Formula-E Racing and last year’s Junior Karter of the Year Raymond Cudala of Tough Gear shared the limelight as they ruled separate races recently in the 2014 Petron Blaze 100 KF Karting Super at the Clark International Speedway.

The two showed marked improvement on their first stint in the premier class, showing near-perfect driving and excellent control of KF2 engines which are the second fastest in the world.

They split honors in the KF Senior Blaze 100 division of this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Petron, Petron Blaze 100 Euro 4, Petron XCS, Petron Ultron, Petron Xtra, Petron Sprint and Yokohama.

Linao drew first blood, clinching the KF Senior Blaze 100 crown in Round 1 as he surprised talented rivals who fared much better last season. He quickly grabbed the pole and pulled ahead to gain safe distance that ensured his hold of the top spot all the way to the finish line.

He clocked 11 minutes, 5.794 seconds in the 11-lap race, a far 2.258 seconds ahead of more experienced Vrei-AR Suba who got tangled in a tight encounter with former Tough Gear Racing teammate Estefano Rivera who bagged third place.

Wayne Darvin of Total Racing checked in fourth and David Papa fifth.

Cudala figured in a close three-way battle with Suba and Rivera in Round 2, dicing one another as they alternately took control of the top spot almost throughout.

Cudala was slightly ahead as they approached the final stretch and breezed to the finish line as a slight contact stalled Suba and Rivera, who got back into the race and eventually finished second and third, respectively, ahead of Darvin (fourth) and Linao (fifth).

In the KF Master Blaze 100 class  Michael Jordan pulled off a big sweep, winning Round 1 over Philip Lau and Julius Milla and reasserted his supremacy in Round 2 over Onemig Bondoc and Lau.

 The next leg, rounds 3 and 4 of the series, is set March 30-31 at the Carmona Racetrack.