Pint-sized Gaddi dominates Asian karting

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled Christian Gaddi of JeT Racing did not let his age and small frame hamper his performance as he ruled the Mini Rok class at the recent Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC) at the Sentul Racetrack in Bogor, Indonesia by half a wheel.

A two-time Golden Wheel and Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) awardee, Gaddi took all the poles from Qualifying Heat 1 up to the finals, where his driving smarts and solid defensive effort were in full display.

The 10-year-old Gaddi was the smallest and youngest karter in the field packed with competitors way older than him, but he still emerged triumphant in the Mini Rok, beating pre-tournament favorite Andy Tangguh of the hosts by a mere 0.095 of a second.

In the final heat, Tangguh outdrove Gaddi twice but the Grade 4 Claret School standout regained the lead on both occasions. In the final stretch of the 14-lap final race, Tangguh unleashed a last-ditch dive to overtake Gaddi, but the JeT Racing star held on to the lead by push-jumping his kart to the finish, a technique he has mastered at the Carmona Racing Circuit.

Gaddi, who has never lost in Indonesia in the past three years, timed 13:12.786, while Tangguh clocked 13:12.881 in what turned out to be the most exciting race of the Asian tournament, which featured the region’s best and some of the world’s top karters.

Actually, problems hounded Gaddi even before he set foot in Indonesia due to the absence of a spare engine, which was a must for participants.

“We didn’t have a spare engine, which was the reason why Christian was very careful with his kart. I prayed hard for his racing machine to finish all the races trouble-free, because one little problem with the engine, and we’re finished. Thank God, Christian pulled through,” said Gaddi’s mother Teena, who rewarded his son with an iPhone after his recent victory in the Magnolia Karting Super Series’ fifth leg at the kart track of the Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.