Ford-TRS pins hopes on rookies

MANILA, Philippines - The TRS Racing team on board the Ford Focus braces for new challenges as it parades two new but talented drivers, Veli-Matti Kaikkonen and Cebuano Manger Calderon, in the kickoff of the Philippine Production Car Championship today at the Subic International Raceway.

Both Kaikkonen and Calderon will be vying for the Novice crown of the event with the huge support of Ford Racing, Goodyear, Standard Insurance, OMP, Discovery Suites, Yellow Cab, Auguila Auto Glass, Starbright Bodykits, K&N, Fremuff, Toptul, Dupont, C! Magazine, Businessworld, Hastravel, ROTA, UltraRacing, Orange Electronic Wireless, Unichip and Philippine Autoclub.

Kaikkonen was a discovery in the TRS Race of Champions last year though he’s not really new into racing. He was the champion of the AIM Concept Car Race Series held in Bira, Thailand way back in 2001.           

Calderon has been into several extreme sports. He had been one of the top figures in the Motocross 125cc class and had been in the Jetski scene for eight years showing skills and endurance as a Stand-Up champion.

The Cebuano ace driver also competed in the KT, Rotax 125 and ICA classes of the National Karting Series, and made his big comeback in the motorsports scene via the 2009 Autocross Series early this year.

“Just like Stuart MacDonald and Dominic Samson, I believe both Kaikkonen and Calderon have what it takes to be strong contenders for the Rookie Driver of the Year award,” said TRS president JP Tuason. 

“Our students are more and more becoming a force to reckon with in the motorsports scene in the country, we are happy that in the 10 years of TRS we can see that we have produced quite a number of champions.” he added.

The Ford Focus, which has won the top places in last year’s PTCC Group 3, has cemented its reputation in racing up against other car brands. “The Ford Focus has been a champion race car both here and abroad, our wins in the Philippines just proves the winning heritage of this car,” quipped Dino Obias, AVP for Marketing of Ford Group Philippines .