Tiu, Go eye crucial wins in dragfest

Manila, Philippines - The country’s top drivers embark on a last ditch effort for the crown in the championship round of the Southern Series-2011 National Drag Racing Championship at the Batangas Racing Circuit Drag Strip in Rosario, Batangas.

Defending champions and JCT-Blanche Racing teammates Jonathan Tiu and Anthony Go are aiming for crucial victories that will seal their respective title-clinching feats in this event supported by Pagcor Sports, Yokohama Philippines, Chequered Flag, Racing Beat@Wave 89.1 FM, Aeromed, and sanctioned by the Automobile Association PhilipPines.

Following his back-to-back triumph last month, Tiu leads the Southern Series with a total of 30 points and hopes to repeat over John Michael Dumaraos of Team Rapide-Batangas, Go, Norman de la Peña of QSP and Martin Manalo of RSL.

Dumaraos is second overall with 25 points or just five points behind Tiu after his big win in the kickoff leg and his runner-up finish last March.

Go is third overall with 15 points while De la Peña and Manalo are in fourth and fifth with 11 and six points, respectively.

Among the other top guns in the Quick 8 division are Edwardo de la Rosa of Team Rapide-Batangas, Norman Alejandrino of H3 Motorsports, Jefferson Jimenez of Federal and Jeremie Cabreros of Ger&Friends.

Go faces a tough fight against Manalo in the Pro class as both share the lead with 20 points apiece.

Tiu is third overall in the Pro class while Michael San Andres of MSA-Gabo, Norman de la Pena and Vanni Garcia of Vannitec follow fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Registration starts at 6:30a.m., practice runs begin at 7:00 a.m. while the qualifying time trials and final heats at 8:30 a.m. onwards.

Also favored in other divisions are Rommel Dural, Akim Cleoefe of Lowtoys, and Kenneth Carrido of Montavita.

Dural leads the Expert class with 31 points up against Alvin Gavino of H3 Motorsports (16 points), John Michael Dumaraos (15 pts.), Almenkiel Isla of Low Rider (12 pts.), and Asi Karl (11 pts.).

Cleofe holds a total of 26 points in the Sportsman class as he aims to prevail anew over Ralph Emerson Montalbo of Montavita (16 pts.), Sherwin Jay Esguerra of SE Racing (16 pts), Bong Montero (12 pts.) and Angelo Miguel Mendoza (11 pts.)

Carrido seeks to preserve his upperhand in the Hotstreet class where he holds 31 points against Ralph Jermaine De Guzman of Lowtoys (16 pts.) Jonas Espino (15 pts.), Julius Sambayan of RSL (12 pts.) and Jeanette Go (11 pts.)

 For further details, interested parties may contact the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 817-2241, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766.