Ace drivers rev up for crucial battle

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s top circuit racing drivers gear up for a crucial battle as they vie in the fifth and penultimate leg of the Yokohama Philippine Grand Touring Car Championships tomorrow at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Batangas.

Multi-titled champion Jody Coseteng of Eagle Cement Racing guns for a second straight win and the big points as he tries to zero in on the overall crown and the coveted Golden Wheel Grand Touring Driver of the Year award.

Coseteng was the pioneer recipient of the Grand Touring Driver of the Year when the Golden Wheel Awards was launched in 2004. He swept the same award in the next three years.

Vincent Floirendo, however, foiled Coseteng’s bid for a fifth award and went on to retain the crown.

Coseteng nearly lost another crack at the title when he was stripped of points in the second leg for failing the Dyno Test. But the veteran campaigner bounced back to reclaim the overall lead following a sweep in the last leg at the Clark International Speedway.

The feat turned a 35-point deficit into a six-point lead over erstwhile leader Peter Kim of Team S-Oil Racing, 140-134, making tomorrow’s race a make-or-break for his title bid going to the championship round on Oct. 26-27 back in Clark.

Focus will also be on Taysan, Batangas Mayor Dondon Portugal, now at third overall with 97 points after his impressive triumph in the third leg of the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by official oil Petronas Lubricants, official tires Yokohama, and media partners Racing Beat@Wave 89.1 and  Inside Motoring on DZRJ 810khz.

Joining them on the grid are fellow GT300 drivers Willy Torres and Dwight Kevin Carlos, GT 200 drivers Arnel Carlos and “Racing Judge” Bayani Vargas, GT130 driver Allen Macaraig and GT100 newcomers Walter Zamora and Edwin Rodriguez.

Judge Vargas won the GT200 Sprint race in the last leg and placed second in the GT200 main race that put him in contention for the overall GT200 plum with 105 points, just 35 points behind Arnel Carlos who has 140 points.

For details, call up 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.