Cabrera, Cudala rule SQ International Cup karting

MANILA, Philippines - Karting champions Gabriel Tayao Cabrera and Raymond Cudala raced true to form as they dominated the SQ International Cup at the Carmona Race Track in Cavite recently.

Cabrera topped the Cadet Novice category, turning in a record time of 52.73 in the qualifier and besting his upper class counterparts in the Expert division. The 12-year-old, in effect, broke the record set by Cudala, who clocked an all-time best of 52.8 during the latter’s stint in the Cadet class last year.

Cabrera’s new record was a welcome surprise after he submitted a 54.599 clocking in the Asian Karting Open Championships (Carmona Round) last year.

Cabrera was also the only cadet then who consistently hit the 54-second mark in the internationally sanctioned karting tilt.  

Cabrera has credited racing buddy Cudala and the latter’s father Bong Cudala for his impressive showing in the SQ International Cup.

“You can always find a strong ally but rarely do you find someone who truly looks out for your best interest. I’m lucky I found both,” said Cabrera.

Cudala, on the other hand, finished runner-up in his SQ Novice debut. The 13-year-old posted a 1:00.541 best time at the qualifying time trials and eventually moved up from 12th to fifth overall in the first qualifying heat.

Cudala incidentally competed against a field of local and foreign racers aged 30-years-old-and-above.

Cabrera and Cudala are students of Makati Hope Christian School and Elizabeth Seton School, respectively. Trans Show veteran Robert Santos of Radiant Systems and Buendia Color Paint Center also cited the boys’ stellar performance.

Backed by Seaoil, the country’s leading independent oil company is optimistic that Cabrera and Cudala will be able to continue their winning streak throughout the year. 

Cabrera is set to move up from the Cadet Class Expert division to the Mini-ROK class while Cudala will vie in the KT novice division when the racing season formally opens next month.