Manalo, Tiu relive dragfest rivalry

MANILA, Philippines – Multi-titled national champion Jonathan Tiu of JCT-Blanche Racing and titleholder Martin Manalo of RSL Motorsports bring their rivalry to another level as they slug it out in the Philippine Drag Racing Championships Southern Series on Saturday at the Batangas Racing Circuit Drag Strip in Batangas.

Tiu, seeking to regain the crown he held for years, gained the solo lead with a double win in the last leg of the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.

Manalo, gunning for back-to-back crowns, is raring to get back at Tiu in the race sponsored by GT Radial, HKS Motor Oil, M&H Race Master, Yokohama and powered by Racing Beat@Wave 89.1.

Tiu and Manalo provided the thrilling action when they battled it out for the Quick 8 and the M&H Pro crowns in their last faceoff.

Their duel in the M&H Pro class final showdown ended in a double breakout but Tiu took the crown after posting a better time of 10.380 seconds again st Manalo’s 12.251.

Out to steal the limelight are ace H3 Autoworks drivers Edwin and Edison Cayco, Pepi Santos and Bong Hilario, Vanni Garcia, Why Why Dagondon and sister When Dagondon of Vannitec, and Norman de la Pena of QSP.

Also favored in the other divisions are Teener Arvin Jay Millet, Angelo Miguel Mendoza of LEM Auto and Dennis Pernes of TMC Racing Team.

Millet hopes to firm up his lead in the Yokohama Expert class against Alex Guro and Dexter Lim of Team Ready.

Mendoza, on the other hand, goes for the HKS Sportsman class title against Charles Ysen of HY2 and Teddy de la Costa of Team Ready-Bustyworkz.

Pernes seeks a repeat of his feat in the GT Radial Hotstreet division against Mark Ferdinand Herrera and Elegio Dumalag III

For details, contact the 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.