Top karters duel Japanese anew

Manila, Philippines - The KF2-KF3 Cup Karting Series holds its third leg today at the Carmona Racetrack with the country’s leading karters, led by defending champion Stefano Marcelo of Maranello-San Miguel Corp.-Marcelo Racing, clashing with the top Japanese bets.

Daiki Sasaki of Japan topped the last race, sweeping Races 3 and 4 of the KF2 class. A 19-year-old veteran of Formula Challenge in Japan and the Asia-Pacific Formula BMW, Sasaki pulled ahead from the pack and finished no less than six seconds ahead with Reo Takahashi to make it a 1-2 finish for the Japanese Kuwayama Racing.

Kazuki Miyazawa and Tsubasa Takahashi complete the Japanese crew in the event sponsored by Denso Iridium Power, Petron, Yokohama Philippines, Motorstar Eastway and Aeromed.

Marcelo, who checked in third in Race 3, heads the local challenge in the KF2 class along with Franco Reyes of Jet Racing, Milo Rivera and VJ Suba of FERN-C Racing, Roby Benito and Juha Turalba of Ready2Race, Marlon Stockinger, Archim Lagman, Joseph Castelar of Castelar Racing, Ken Monzones of GP1-Natmo Asia and Arvin Drueco.

Rivera hopes to improve on his runner-up finish in Race 4 while Benito, Turalba, Reyes and Suba try to bounce back and boost their respective title bids.

FERN-C Racing teammates RR Suba and Estefano Rivera are also going for back-to-back feats in the 13-man KF3 division.

Suba is out to preserve his lead but Rivera hopes to spring a surprise.

 in the event which also features Japanese Marino Sato of Aran Racing, CJ Tsui of Tuason Racing, Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier-Marcelo Racing, Jaz Monzones of Natmo Asia-GP1 Racing and Cebuano Jette Calderon of Jet Racing in the KF3 division.

Details: Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 817-2241 or www.asiankarting.com.