Malaysian paces Asian Open karting

MANILA, Philippines - A three-way battle among karters from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia looms in the Asian Open Karting chamapionship after the Macau leg at the Kartodromo de Coloane Circuit last week.

Despite finishing only second to Indonesian Sean Gelael, Malaysian top bet Weiron Tan took the overall lead in this event organized by the Automobile General Association Macao-China, sponsored by the Red White Racing Indonesia and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Tourism.

Tan now holds a total of 42 points, two points ahead of Singapore’s Richard Bradley and Gelael who are tied in second place with 40 points apiece in the premiere Formula 125 Open Senior class.

Two other Indonesians – Andi Aviandha Triadna Jakile and Christian Silvano – followed with 27 and 25 points respectively while another Malaysian ace Ryan Mumford is in sixth with 20.

Top Filipino karters – Juha Turalba of Ready2Race, Vencer John Suba of FERN-C Racing, Stefano Marcelo of Maranello-San Miguel Corporation-Marcelo Racing and reigning Karter of the Year Joey Orduna – didn’t join the Macau leg as they slipped to ninth to 12th places.

But the Philippines could still reclaim its supremacy in Asian Karting if these ace karters dominate the last three rounds. The next leg is set Aug. 7-8 at the Sentul Circuit in Indonesia.

The country’s biggest hopes for top honors in this event are Jet Racing’s Franco Reyes and Christian Gaddi who are within the top five spots in their respective classes.

Reyes is third overall in the Formula 125 Open Junior class with 38 points while Gaddi is fourth overall in the Mini-ROK class with 47.

Indonesian Yasuo Senna Iriawan of Red White Racing Indonesia looms as the title favorite in the Formula 125 Open Junior class where he leads with 57 points or an 18-point lead over Singapore’s Andersen Martono who’s in second with 39.

Macau’s Andy Chang Wing Chung and Thailand’s Chatmongkon Wisutthisen follow Reyes in fourth and fifth with 34 and 31 points respectively.