CARMONA, CAVITE, Philippines – The Philippines could be headed for another big sweep as ace karters Bobby Domingo of Formula-E Racing, Seaoil-DC karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera and Eduardo Coseteng Jr of Eagle Cement claimed the pole positions in their respective classes after the consolidated tally of the three qualifying heats yesterday in the third round of the 2014 Asian Karting Open Championships Series at the Carmona Racetrack in Carmona, Cavite.
Domingo, 2014 Petron Karter of the Year, bolstered his chances for the Asian Karting diadem after clinching Grid No. 1 in the premier Formula Open 125 Seniors class of this event sanctioned by the world governing Commission Internationale de Karting- Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (CIK-FIA) and local governing body Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), and sponsored by Petron and Yokohama tires.
He topped the qualifying time trials, clocking 44.386 seconds as he seeks a repeat of his previous feat to beef up his quest as the Asian karting king and end the country’s eight-year title drought since Marlon Stockinger last delivered the prestigious plum back in 2006.
Just close behind Domingo is frontrunning Macau ace Joao de Jesus Afonso of CKS Racing Team who leads with 75 points with Vrei-AR Suba of Kart Plaza Motorsports Racing Team at third place.
Cabrera likewise fortified his hunt for the prestigious title as Asian karting king as he copped the top spot in the Formula Open 125 Juniors division. Jacob Ang of Eagle Cement Racing Team, who was fastest in the qualifying time trials in 45.668 seconds, takes Grid No 2 over Noda Racing Academy’s exceptional junior recruit Masamori Iwai.
Coseteng will occupy the top spot in the Asian Mini-ROK class as he expects another grueling battle against Bianca Bustamante of Formula-E Racing and defending Asian Mini-ROK champion Flynn Jackes of Kart Master Drakar Racing Team who are at second and third.