Kim back on track, rules GP Super Karting

MANILA, Philippines — Jarred Kim returned to Philippine karting with amazing audacity, sweeping both rounds in the third leg of the 2019 Petron Blaze 100 ROK GP Super Karting Series at Clark International Speedway’s kart track in Pampanga recently.

The eighth grader from Korean International School Philippines reaped the rewards of his recent European campaign by topping three of the four qualifying races and seizing Round 5 over Wayne Norman Darvin and Round 6 over Bianca Bustamante.

With his first victories of the 12-round national series, Kim shared the limelight with Zach David and Miguel Quinones who split the ROK Junior honors, Melwin William Tan and Joharry Suba who ruled the Mini ROK races, back-to-back Formula Cadet Novice champion Jesus Antonio Garcia, Masters victors Ronn Catindig and Arvin Drueco and Veterans repeat winner Rommel Herce.

The 14-year-old Kim timed 19 minutes and 1.054 seconds over 21 laps around the 1.25-kilometer track, 19.476 seconds clear of Darvin and 26.345 ahead of Catindig in Round 5 as favorite and reigning Asian champion Bustamante failed to start on the advice of her dentist.

Kim spoiled Bustamante’s return in Round 6 the next day by turning in a quicker 18:53.038 clocking and besting the girl phenom by 8.848 seconds, with Darvin another 7.440 farther adrift in third.

Round 3 overall winner David raced in the 21-lap ROK Junior class this time and took Race 5 in 19:41.367 with Tara Laconico 6.940 and Junho Kim 6.962 seconds off in second and third. Quinones secured Round 6 in 18:57.244 over Kim and Neil Jigi Tupas as David settled for fifth.