MANILA, Philippines - Ivan Kailer Diaz made history as the youngest and only rookie driver to complete a championship sweep of the 2015 Yokohama Philippine Grand Touring Car Series’ GT 100 category at the Batangas Racing Circuit recently.
The 17-year-old Diaz, using a 1995 Honda Hatchback with 88 horsepower, swept all 12 of his GT100 races in the premier circuit-racing event to complete a rare perfect 360-point total.
“This is sweet triumph for me,” said Diaz, who plans to take part in the faster GT150 division next season.
“I thank God for keeping me and my team safe. I would like to express my gratitude to my parents and to my sisters, especially to my baby sister Gabby for supporting me and giving me the encouragement, which helped me a lot to be motivated to reach the finish line,” said Diaz, whose mother was a pro bowling champion and father was a drag-racing champion.
“I chose racing because I love speed, cars and the adrenaline pumping into your vein,” said Diaz, backed by MJCD Trading and Construction, Mohspeed, Bracing, Mitasu Oil, Yellowspeed, Richmond Auto Parts Ltd., Carsunlimited, Jobs Connect, Jobs Finder, A1 Advertising, Kopirotu, Jengsports, Flowout Paint, Calibre Autorefinishing and Bullzkicks and Tapa King Cauayan, Isabela.
The Saint Benilde architecture student started racing at the age of 13, fueling his new-found love through go-kart racing with the help of Arvin Drueco and coach Edgen Dy-liaco.
But it proved short-lived as his parents told him to concentrate on his studies after his grades started to drop. But after a year, to Ivan’s surprise, his dad, a two-time Golden Wheel Awardee for drag-racing, put him back behind the wheel.