Best in motorsports honored in Golden Wheel

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s motorsports achievers last year take center stage on March 17 in a gala celebration of the 15th Golden Wheel Awards Night at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

From karting to GT racing, the winners of the various 2017 race series will receive the local sport’s most prestigious trophy.

They are: McKinley Kyle Paz (Scooter Racing), Masato Fernando (Underbone), Marvin Mangulabnan (Superbikes), Donark Yuzon (Motocross), John Dizon (Karting), Milo Rivera (Slalom), Rick Jason de Guzman (Classic Cars), Patrick dela Rosa (Grand Touring), Carlo Magno Jr. (Rallycross), Jonathan Tiu (Drag Racing), Eduardo Coseteng Jr. (Asian Karting, juniors) and Jacob Paolo Ang (Asian Karting, seniors).

The awardee for 4x4 Offroad Racing will be announced on the eve of the affair.

From among these champions will emerge the Golden Wheel Driver of the Year awardee for the racer with the most impressive, toughest victory in 2017.

A panel composed of veteran motorsports personalities, officials and members of the media will select the season’s biggest awardee in a balloting with the winner to be announced only during the gala night.

“The winner doesn’t have to be the runaway champion in his category last season,” said Johnny Tan, the Golden Wheel Awards founder and patron and regarded as the country’s godfather of motorsports. “He or she must display the truest character of a champion, a fighter to the last.”

Superbikes’ Mangulabnan nailed last year’s top award for his awe-inspiring season triumph over fellow former champions Raniel Resuello and Dashi Watanabe.

Past Drivers of the Year awardees include karting’s Michelle Bumgarner (2003, 2004), Touring Car’s Jody Coseteng (2006, with Formula 3’s Tyson Sy), the late Maico Buncio of Superbikes (2007, 2010) and Tiu (2008, 2009), Mangulabnan (2016) and Rivera (2014, 2015).