Portugal GT driver of the year

MANILA, Philippines - Dondon Portugal took the Yokohama GT Driver of the Year honors while Jody Coseteng of Eagle Cement swept two races in the sixth and final leg of the 2014 Yokohama Philippine Grand Touring (GT) Car Championships at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas recently.

Portugal, the concurrent Mayor of the Municipality of Taysan in Batangas, wrapped up his campaign with 310 points to capture the GT300 of the series capping the 2014 BRC Motorsports Championship season presented by Petronas, sponsored by Yokohama and sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP).

It was a big feat for Portugal, who became the first non-traditional circuit racer to win the title in years.

Actor-racer Jomari Yllana, who finished third in both the 10-lap Sprint and the 17-lap GT Main Race, bagged the overall runner-up honors in the GT300 class with 129 points with Coseteng’s strong finish netting him third place overall.

Portugal stayed close to Coseteng and even controlled the top spot during the first three laps of the GT Main Race before the Eagle Cement ace driver wrested the lead for good in the next lap.

Paolo Mantolino humbled his more experienced rivals and ended his campaign with a big sweep over 2010 PTCC champion Joey Pery to clinch the GT200 title and 2014 PTCC crown.

With 302 points, Mantolino also earned the AAP Driver of the Year honors over Pery who wound up with 255 points.