MANILA, Philippines - Estefano Rivera of FERN-C Racing recalled the form he showed in the Asian Karting Open as he humbled the top guns to rule the fifth leg of the Petron Blaze Karting Super Series at the Kart Trak of the Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna over the weekend.
Rivera, a former top rookie, bucked an engine trouble midway in the qualifying heat and fought back from the tailend of the 15-man field of the pre-finals to finish sixth.
He sustained his surge in the 26-lap final race that saw him overtake more experienced Alessandra Racing bets Oliver Aquino and Alessandra Madrigal in the early going before closing within defending champion Stefano Marcelo of Maranello-San Miguel Corp.-Marcelo Racing with eight laps to go.
Rivera challenged Marcelo from there and slipped past the veteran campaiger with four laps to go en route to victory in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) and sponsored by Petron Blaze 100, San Miguel Corp., Aeromed, Denso Iridium Power, Motorstar Eastway and Yokohama Philippines.
Rivera claimed the ROK overall crown with 13-minute, 55.139-second clocking, a mere 0.696 seconds ahead of Marcelo.
Aquino took third place while older brother Milo Rivera of FERN-C Racing and Franco Reyes of Industria Racing wound up fourth and fifth, respectively.
Estefano also copped the ROK Juniors plum over Industria Racing’s Franco Reyes, Cebuano Jette Calderon and CJ Tsui, and fifth placer Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier-Marcelo Racing to complete a golden double.
The event also turned into a “reunion race” with the presence of three former favorites - Andres Calma, Bobby Domingo and three-time Karter of the Year and now celebrity Matteo Guidicelli.
Calma ruled the Formula SL Expert class with Domingo in third place behind AUTS Racing teammate John Castelar.
Guidicelli’s comeback race, however, ended in frustration as his kart bogged down in the final race.
In the SQ Kart Race, Don Batino beat Raul Baretto and John Effinger in the SQ Expert class.
Effinger likewise won the SQ Veterans title over Gonzalo Julian Jr. and Philip Lao while newcomer Wilson Patrick Ong topped the SQ Novice division over Lachlan Christic and Daniel Castaneda.
For details, contact the Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit the website www.asiankarting.com.