120 drivers clash in drag racing kickoff leg

MANILA, Philippines - Some 120 drivers battle it out for top honors in the kickoff of the 2012 Philippine Drag Racing Championships this Saturday at the Clark International Speedway in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Up for grabs are the Quick 8, M&H Super Pro, M&H Pro, Expert, Sportsman and Hotstreet titles.

Racing director Fil Gulfin said drivers briefing is at 8 a.m. He stressed that safety gears like helmets, race suits and the required roll cages in cars, particularly those who are competing in the Quick 8, M&H Super Pro and M&H Pro, will be strictly enforced.

Angeles City-based former US servicemen John Ryzia, Steve Caldwell and William Hand head the cast with their crowd-drawing Chevrolets and Camaros which wil be challenged by the likes of defending champion Jonathan Tiu and his JCT-Blanche Racing teammate Anthony Go.

Others competing in the event, sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Yokohama, M&H Race Master and powered by Racing Beat@Wave 89.1, are H3 Autoworks bets Pepi Santos, Teofilo Edwin Cayco and brother Edison Cayco, Vannitec’s Edward Pujol and Norman de la Pena of My Mitsu.

Teofilo Edwin Cayco will be gunning for back-to-back crowns in the Super Pro division against William Hand.

Martin Manalo defends the Pro class title against a host of top caliber rivals which nclude Allen Dizon, Norman de la Peña, Peng Diaz and Northern Series champion Edison Cayco.

Also favored in the other division are Rommel Dural in the Expert class, Richard Reyes of Kapshop and Akim Cleofe of Lowtoys in the Sportsman division and Kenneth Carrido of Montavita in the Hotstreet class.

The other participating teams are HYZ, Speedmode, Montavita, Kapshop, TEMZ, Team Ready, Pit 21, Cabspeed, Mohspeed, Ahra-Garage Power, SE Racing, Forcespeed, Prodigy, Step, Mymitsuph, Signal, HRE, Gulfspeed and other privateers.

Meanwhile, the southern series will start Feb. 18 at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

Details: Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 729-72 41-42, 729-5365 or fax 844-7766, or 0922-8858410.