Rivera seeks 3rd double win in karting series

MANILA, Philippines - The battle for this year’s Karter of the Year award heats up with the staging of the fourth leg of the National Karting Series this Sunday in Brgy. Bangkal, Carmona, Cavite.

Estefano Rivera of FERN-C Racing is eyeing his third straight double title feat in a bid to firm up the solo lead in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Motorstar and Aeromed.

Following his big win at Boomland Kart Track, the 15-year-old Rivera hopes to become the second karter in history to win both the Karter of the Year and Junior Karter of the Year in a single season after Joey Orduna, then 14, did the feat to emerge the youngest karting champion in 2009.

Rivera now holds a total of 205 points in the ROK overall, a wide lead over FERN-C Racing teammate VJ Suba and Industria Racing’s CJ Tsui who garnered 178 and 111 points, respectively.

In the ROK Junior class, he has earned 230 points so far against Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier-Marcelo Racing (151 pts.) and FERN-C Racing teammate and last year’s Clubman Karter Matthew Chan (126 pts).

Out to foil Rivera’s bid are Sacha Feliciano of Marcelo Racing, Javi Benitez and Bobby Domingo of Industria Racing, older brother Milo Rivera of FERN-C Racing and Jaz Monzones of Natmo Asia-GP1 Racing.

Two other top industria Racing karters – Franco Reyes and last year’s Junior Karter Jette Calderon – are also expected to vie in the event.

Feliciano is fourth overall with 94 points as she also shares the lead with Monzones in the ROK Clubman division toting 188 points apiece while Benitez, a former Junior Karter of the Year, is fifth overall with 83.

Monzones, holding 214 pts., likewise seeks to keep the top spot in the Formula SL Expert class against lady karter Yvana Carangan of AUTS Racing (191 pts.) and Wayne Darvin (170 pts.).

Equally exciting is the SQ Karting Race where Nike Mora of Red Bull Supreme seeks his fourth straight triumph in the SQ Expert class against teammate Don Batino and Jerry Choi Acuna. 

Mora kept his grip of the top spot with 222 points against Batino and Acuna who tally 172 and 126 points respectively. He also leads the SQ Veteran class with 244 points against Acuna (138 pts.) and Phillip Rido (106 pts.).

Michael Bonafe, currently with 187 points, also tries to maintain his lead in the SQ Novice division against Michael Jordan (141 pts.), newcomers Luis Gono (100 pts.) and Jomar Ang (64 pts.)

For details, contact Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit the website www.asiankarting.com.