Turalba, Tiu bag top Golden Wheel honors

MANILA, Philippines - The sixth Golden Wheel Awards Night ended in another unexpected twist as young ace karter Juha Turalba and drag racing champ Jonathan Tiu bagged the coveted plums recently at the Pagcor Grand Theater at Pagcor Parañaque.

Turalba, 15, himself was surprised when he was conferred the 2009 Golden Wheel International Driver of the Year award up against other more experienced contenders – NAMSSA Motocross champion Kenneth San Andres, Superbikes champion Maico Buncio and comrade Karter of the Year Stefano Marcelo.

Almost everybody thought the Golden Wheel would be another toss-up between Marcelo and Buncio. But the board of judges gave more weight on Turalba’s feat as the Asian ROK champion than Marcelo and Buncio’s experiences competing in highly prestigious events in Europe and the US.

“I’m really shocked because I wasn’t really expecting this. And I’m grateful to the Golden Wheel organizers for this great recognition that more than made up for all the agonies and hardwork during the season. This award is for my parents, my sponsors and all who believed in me,” said Turalba.

Tiu bagged the Golden Wheel National Driver of the Year Award over the champions of other motorsports disciplines for his monumental feat -- posting the all-time fastest quarter-mile record of 9.223 seconds – to win the title of the Pagcor Drag Racing Championships-Northern Series at the Clark International Speedway (CIS) Drag Strip.

But the bigger revelation came from Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino who renewed his commitment to RP motosports and announced plans of making the Philippines Asia’s best motorsports hub through the proposed new Nayong Pilipino which will be equipped with an FIA-approved track aside from shopping malls, entertainment centers and luxury hotels.

The Golden Wheel Awards also elevated multi-titled Touring Car and Rallye champion Edmundo “Dante” Silverio into the Hall of Fame.

 One of the legendary pillars of Philippine motorsports, Silverio said that even if he has retired from racing, motorsports would always be the closest to his heart as it launched him to national fame.

Receiving the other major Golden Wheel Awards were Marcelo (karting), Buncio (superbikes), Jaime Barcial (underbone), Felix Perez (grand touring car), Carlo Garcia (rallye), Ivan Isada (rallycross) and Kenneth San Andres (motocross).

For details on the Golden Wheel Awards, interested parties may call up the Golden Wheel Foundation c/o Rose Feria or Meann Daliva at 817-2241.