Turalba, Villalon produce thrilling wins in Shell karting

Juha Turalba of Ready2Race and Indy Villalon of AUTS Racing scored convincing victories in their respective divisions recently in the penultimate round of the 2008 Shell Helix Karting Super Series at the Carmona Circuit Philippines.

Turalba, 14, uncorked a wire-to-wire victory over Boomland ROK Junior champion John Alvarez of Maranello-San Miguel Corp.-Marcelo Racing and Javi Benitez of Jet Racing to capture both the Formula 125 Open Senior and ROK Senior crowns.

The event is sponsored by Shell Helix, Denso Iridium Power, PagCor Sports, Yokohama Tires, Motorstar Eastway Company and Aeromed Ambulance Transport.

Villalon, on the other hand, displayed raw power to turn back former Asian champ Marlon Stockinger and comebacking Oliver Aquino of Alessandra Racing to rule the Formula SL Expert division.

It turned out to be a good tune-up race for Turalba, who will be joined by defending champion Stefano Marcelo, Bobby Domingo, John Alvarez, Franco Reyes and Christian Gaddi in the Philippine Team competing in the 2008 ROK World Cup set Oct. 15-19 in Lonato, Italy.

He swept all three races, posting the fastest laptime of 44.261 seconds to control the tempo throughout before wrapping up the 20-lap race in 14 minutes, 42.962 seconds.

Alvarez, a first timer in the Expert division, finished second 1.434 seconds behind in 14:44.396. Benitez, despite problems on his kart, was third.

Villalon drew raves from the crowd after dicing several times with Stockinger and Aquino. Aquino managed to slip past Villalon midway the 20-lap final race but the latter quickly got back to his post and controlled the tempo from thereon.

Villalon claimed the checkered flag in 16:8.279, just a slim 0.925 of a second ahead of Stockinger. Aquino (16:10.261) 1.058 seconds behind Villalon.

Andres Calma of AUTS Racing and Francis Reyes ended fourth and fifth, respectively

Sharing the limelight in this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines was Joseph Castelar of AUTS Racing who regained solo lead following his big win in the Formula SL Novice class.