Rivera pulls off upset win in Magnolia karting

MANILA, Philippines - Young Estefano “Nonoy” Rivera of PCR-Tough Gear Racing glittered following his upset triumph over the top guns to beef up his title bid in the Formula SL Novice class recently in the sixth and penultimate leg of the 2009 Magnolia Pure Water Karting Super Series at the Boomland Track of the CCP Complex in Pasay.

It was the second season triumph for Rivera, a Grade 7 student of JASMS-Manila, following his Cebu victory for the PCR-Tough Gear Racing powered by FERN-C, Placewell International Inc., CMB Film Services Inc., Getaway Tours Int’l., Golf Sky and PCR-Italy.     

His feat caused a major revamp in the leaderboard as he now moved up second overall with 337, just 30 points behind frontrunning Cebuano ace Tonyo Carcel. Another Cebuano Jette Calderon is third overall with 318.

His brother Milo Rivera also ended fifth in the Formula SL Expert division.

Estefano controlled the race from start to finish, completing the 28-lap final heat in 17 minutes, 25.026 seconds or a far 2.665 seconds ahead of Carcel who settled for the runner-up honors.

Banking on guts and strategy, Estefano submitted the fastest 38.053 seconds in the qualifying time trials to rule all three qualifying heats, the pre-final and the final race.

He admittedly ignored the instructions of head coach and team manager Edgen Dy-Liacco, particularly in the pre-final race where he went out of the racing line, slowed down to conserve his tires and was almost caught by Korean Daniel Park.

And he proved his decision right in the final race where Carcel failed to catch up with his nearly worn out tires.

“It was a big gamble on my part. I know I might be scolded by my coach but I took the chance and it paid off,” said Estefano.