Top drivers gird for final showdown in GT racing

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s top drivers brace for one final charge as they clash in the Yokohama Philippine Grand Touring Car Championship’s sixth and final leg at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas this Sunday.

Front-running Taysan, Batangas Mayor Dondon Portugal seeks another sweep in the sprint and GT main races for the coveted Yokohama GT Driver of the Year plum.

Portugal has actually wrapped up the crown after his sweep of the two previous races, which hiked his total to 263 points.

But action in the premier GT300 class is expected to be fierce with second-running Jomari Yllana, who’s coming off a third place finish in the Super Race Championship in South Korea, and is gearing up for a showdown for the runner-up  position against Velli-Matti Kaikkonen, Jody Coseteng and the comebacking Willie Torres.

Spicing up the event are expected tight duels in the PhilMiniracers Championship Series, the VW KaFER Cup, the Winds Formula Philippines and the Sparco Bracket Circuit Racing.

Paolo Mantolino, Joey Pery and reigning PTCC champion Carlos Anton are also up for a tight battle for the GT200 crown and the Philippine Touring Car Championship.

Mantolino, who ruled the GT Main Race in the last leg, kept his grip of solo lead with 242 points with Pery and Anton toting 210 and 196 points, respectively.

Richmond dela Rosa and Edwin Rodriguez also seek to nail the titles in their respective divisions with the former, toting 238 points, fancied in the GT150 race against Joel Portugal and Walter Zamora, and the latter, tipped to clinch the GT100 crown against Rhaffy La Torre, Arvin Dureco, Ivan Diaz and Joginger Sin.

The event is part of the 2014 BRC Motorsports Championship season presented by Petronas, sponsored by Yokohama and sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.

For details, call up the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (6e 32) 729-72 41-42, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766, 0922 8858410 or Facebook, www.facebook.com/ Batangas Racing Circuit or website www.batangasracingcircuit.org.