EJ Coseteng heads international field in Asian Karting Open

MACAU – European circuit campaigner Eduardo “EJ” Coseteng heads the robust Philippine challenge against a topnotch international field when the decisive fourth and concluding leg of the Asian Karting Open Championships fires off on Thursday at Kartodromo de Coloane here.

Coseteng, the winner of the first of two Philippine legs at Carmona Racetrack in July but then missed the third round due to a training gig in Italy, goes all out in a bid to keep the premier Formula 125 Seniors Open and X30 overall titles in Filipino hands.

The 16-year-old son of former car racing champion Jody Coseteng lays third in the standings with 118 points, a surmountable 52 points behind Japanese leader Kaito Tsukada and a mere 2 off second-running Yang Liang of China going into the season closer sponsored by Petron and San Miguel Corp.

Defending series champion Jacob Ang, the big winner of the season’s opening leg at the same Kartodromo circuit, begged off this time. But a host of Filipino challengers, including John Dizon, Karl Wilhelm and Bianca Bustamante, will be around to provide Coseteng strong company.

Karters from Britain, Russia, Italy, Australia and Colombia add depth to the already strong starting field of racers from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines in the four-day season closer of the prestigious Asian series.

Bustamante paces the Formula 125 Juniors Open and X30 Juniors class against a stellar field with identical 198 points, with Miguel Joseph Quinones and Tammy Victoria Baisa solidly ensconced behind her in second and third spots in the overall standings.

Joharry Suba, William Riley Go, Zach David and Miguel Angeles lay 1-2-3-4 in the Mini ROK standings and are expected to preserve the Philippine dominance in the class.