Crucial races lined up in Coca-Cola karting tilt

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s leading karters seek crucial wins to firm up their respective title bids in the Coca-Cola Karting Super Series which unfolds Sunday at the Clark International Speedway in Clark, Pampanga.

The Clark race serves as the final round of hostilities in the Formula Cadet Expert and Novice, SQ Expert, Novice and Veteran and the Formula SL Expert and Novice classes of the series sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.

But for the ROK karters, they will be gunning for Round 6 points in their pursuit for the ROK Clubman, Junior, Senior and Overall crowns. Rounds 7 and 8 will be disputed on Nov. 10 and 11, respectively, at the Carmona racetrack.

Frontrunning Estefano Rivera of Fern-C Racing goes for no less than a victory to bolster his bid for the Karter of the Year and the Junior Karter of the Year honors in a single season.

Rivera, 15, scored back-to-back wins in Batangas and Boomland for 298 points in the ROK overall. He also leads the ROK Junior division with 370 points against Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier (260 pts.), Jaz Monzones of Natmo Asia-GP1 Racing (194 pts.) and teammate Matthew Chan (150 pts.). 

But his disappointing finish in the final race at Enchanted Kingdom enabled Vencer John Suba of Eagle Cement to close in with 269 points following the latter’s victories in Carmona and Enchanted Kingdom.

Other title hopefuls in the event sponsored by Coca-Cola, Yokohama Tires, Motorstar and Aeromed are CJ Tsui of Industria Racing (205 pts,), Sacha Feliciano of Marcelo Racing (171 pts.), Milo Rivera (155 pts.) and Matthew Chan (132 pts) of Fern-C Racing.

Suba is also gunning for the crown in the ROK Senior class with 313 points against Tsui (264 pts.), Feliciano (224 pts.) and Milo Rivera (219 pts.).

Feliciano holds the lead in the ROK Clubman division with 339 points with Jaz MOnzones in distant second with 305 points.

Red Bull Supreme Racing Team top bets Nike Mora and Don Batino, currently with 422 and 341 points respectively, seek another 1-2 finish to formally clinch the top two posts in the SQ Expert division against Jerry Choi Acuna (243 pts.).