Tiu, Fallorina target Clark dragfest repeat

MANILA, Philippines - The National Drag Racing Championships Northern Series holds its second leg tomorrow with the country’s top drivers seeing action at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Reigning Drag Racing Driver of the Year Jonathan Tiu of JCT Racing and Ricky Fallorina gun for a repeat of their feats the first time out in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by M&H, Sparco and Aguila Auto Glass.

Tiu shoots for back-to-back wins in his pet Quick 8 class while Fallorina seeks a follow-up to his romp in the premiere M&H Pro division after beating Reb Sibal and Angelo Chua in the opening round of the event that drew a record-breaking 347 field last month.

In 2014, Tiu, aboard his Nissan R35, broke into the eight-second barrier, setting the still existing Philippine drag racing all-time fastest record of 8.806 seconds. He also set the new Clark International Speedway fastest time at 8.578 seconds which, however, didn’t qualify as a national record for failure to produce a back-up stint of no less than 0.1 of a second close to the record.

But with good track condition, engine set-up and preparation, Tiu hopes to shatter the existing Philippine mark or even break into the seven-second barrier.