Karters start title chase in Petron series

MANILA, Philippines - Over 60 karters plunge into a more intense battle for the titles at stake as the Petron Karting Super Series kicks off its 2012 season today at the Carmona racetrack.

With the throne vacated by four-time champion Stefano Marcelo who announced his retirement from local karting, ace karters gear up for a wild and grueling showdown for the coveted Karter of the Year plum of this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Petron Blaze, San Miguel Corporation, Motorstar and Aeromed.

Among the ace karters aspiring to become the successor to Marcelo’s throne are last year’s runner-up VJ Suba of Fern-C Racing, Franco Reyes of Industria Racing, last year’s Junior Karter of the Year Jette Calderon, Fern-C Racing stalwarts Milo and Estefano Rivera and Vrei-AR Suba, Roby Benito of One Racing, Archim Lagman, lady karter Sacha Feliciano and the comebacking Bobby Domingo of Industria Racing.

And with last year’s top juniors moving up to challenge the top guns in the ROK Senior and ROK Overall classes, this season promises to be more exciting and unpredictable.

Also up for grabs are titles in the SQ Cadet Novice, the SQ Cadet Expert, SQ Novice, SQ Expert, SQ Veterans, Mini-ROK, Formula SL Novice, Formula SL Expert, ROK Novice and ROK Junior divisions.

Participants aim to gain a better crack at victory in today’s qualifying time trials which will determine their grid positions in the qualifying heats slated tomorrow morning.

The pre-final and the final races are set tomorrow afternoon.

The hunt for the Junior Karter of the Year crown is also expected to gain its share of the limelight with Rookie of the Year Sean Velasco and Novice champion Joseph Marwin Rojo of Industria Racing and Clubman Karter of the Year Matthew Chan of Fern-C Racing battling for the coveted plum

The SQ Kart Race, a fast-growing category that’s luring more enthusiasts into actual karting competition, promises to be another spectacle boasting of a huge field led by defending champion Don Batino, the first SQ National and SQ International champion who recently suited up for the Red Bull Supreme Racing Team together with teammate Nike Mora.

Among the other favorites in the SQ Kart Race are Peterson Lim, Raul Baretto, John Effinger, Joseph Castelar, Roby Benito, Daniel Castaneda, Mark Laxa, Lachlan Christic and actor Onemig Bondoc

Budding young karters, led by last year’s top discovery Raymond Cudala, will also strut their wares in the Mini-ROK, SQ Cadet Expert and SQ Cadet Novice divisions.

The Karter of the Year will be based on the final cumulative points on ranking for the ROK Overall and KF2 class while the Junior Karter of the Year will be based on the final cumulative points on ranking for ROK Junior and KF3 class.

For more info, interested parties may call the Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit the website www.asiankarting.com.