Calma dominates at Clark Speedway

MANILA, Philippines — Andres Calma swept into the spotlight anew after a long winless spell in Grand Touring competitions, topping two of three races under perfect racing conditions in the fourth leg of the 2019 Petron Philippine Motorsports Championships (Phimos) at Clark International Speedway in Pampanga recently.

The 23-year-old, 6-foot-2 son of PBA legend Hector Calma steered a Honda EK unspoilt by alternator problems that had thwarted him in the previous leg to upend Yokohama GT 200 defending champion Edwin Rodriguez in Race 1 by more than eight seconds with a time of 22 minutes and 52.283 seconds.

Calma, a graduating student at La Salle, charged into the lead from third on the grid in the seventh of the eight-lap Race 2 the next day to prevail by 5.844 seconds over Paulo Santos and his Honda FD in a quicker 22:50.166.

Series overall leader Andre Tan (23:05.122), Paulo Santos and Justin Neri finished third to fifth in Race 1, with Neri (23:08.122), Rodriguez and Russ Agapito finishing in that order behind Calma and Santos in Race 2.

Rodriguez, in a Honda FD, earlier moved within six points of Tan in the GT 200 season overall tally with a commanding pole-to-pole victory over Calma in Race 2 of the washed-out third leg. Tan, Lewy Manio and Drew Manio followed them home.

By winding up fifth and third overall in the combined Phimos races, Justin Neri swept the GT 150 titles in a Honda EG.