Win seals Marcelo's fourth karting award

MANILA, Philippines - Stefano Marcelo topped the sixth and penultimate leg of the Petron Blaze Karting Super Series, virtually sealing a record fourth Karter of the Year crown at the Clark International Speedway over the weekend.

The top Maranello-San Miguel Corp.-Marcelo Racing bet ruled the eight-lap race in nine minutes, 20.544 seconds, beating Fern-C Racing’s Estefano Rivera, who checked in 2.167 seconds behind. With a total of 351 points, way ahead of VJ Suba (243) and Franco Reyes (201), Marcelo is a cinch to win the Karter of the Year honors a record fourth time.

“It’s been a bumpy ride this season. I have to give credit to the young karters for the challenge. But thank God we pulled through and this title more than made up for all the hard work and pressure this season,” said Marcelo.

The four-peat will surpass the previous record feats of Edgen Dy-Liacco and Pepon Marave, who each won the karting title thrice.

Marcelo also dedicated his record feat to his late grandfather Eddie Marcelo, also a distinguished racing legend.

“This one is for the most supportive grandfather of all-time,” said Marcelo. “This has been his long-time wish and I know he’s very happy now.”

Unlike before when he used to dominate the races, Marcelo won only three of the last six races with Suba and Reyes together with Estefano Rivera leading the young karters’ challenge.

In the recent race, Marcelo wound up third in the qualifying heat and slid to fifth after the pre-final race. But the 19-year-old wonder sizzled in the rain, bouncing back from No. 5 to second after the first turn.

In the third lap, Marcelo drove past Suba and went on to top the event.