MANILA, Philippines - The TRS Raceday underscored its billing as the country’s grassroots “Motorsports Festival” with a jampacked crowd of enthusiastic spectators, a huge field of participants and intense racing action that marked the successful staging of its 2012 season kickoff at the Batangas Racing Circuit.
A total of 132 cars and 11 motorcycles competed in the whole-day, non-stop racing events highlighted by the 2012 TRS Cup where former PTCC and GT champions Stuart McDonald and Sean Redpath dominated the 12-car grid in the first three races.
The series was presented by Bridgestone and Castrol, and sponsored by Coke Zero, Standard Insurance CarPro, OMP, official partners AAP, Ford Alabang, Emotions, Speedlab, Aguila Auto Glass and Lifeline, and media partners C! Magazine, kotse.com, Stoplight TV, Business World, TurboZone and The Philippine STAR.
McDonald staged a big comeback in circuit racing scene after a four-year hiatus when he prevailed in the Expert division of Race 1 and 3 while Redpath bagged his convincing, no-frills triumph in Race 2.
From the start, the drivers were in hot pursuiit of the titles at stake – Redpath and last year’s runner-up Charlie Cojuangco for their anticipated title rivalry, Basti Escalante of Standard Insurance Car Pro showing his worth as the youngest driver at 15 and newcomer Jussi Hoika who claimed the pole in 1:47.639.
Hoikka’s efforts were shortlived as Escalante grabbed the lead and controlled the tempo until the fifth lap where he was forced out of the race when Expert drivers Redpath and Cojuangco squeezed into the last sweeping turn.
Cojuangco likewise faded out while Redpath was slapped a10-second penalty as MacDonald, who silently made his way to second, captured the win outright over Redpath and third placer Alvin Ng.
In Race 2, Hoikka surprisingly took the early lead with Redpath behind as MacDonald and Ng were penalized for jumpstart violations.
However the seasoned Redpath quickly wrested the top spot and preserved his post from thereon to clinch the Expert crown.