CEBUANO junior karters overpowered their counterparts when they pulled off a 1-2-3 finish in the sixth leg of the Shell Helix National Karting Series held last Sunday at the Boomland Race Track in Manila.
Juan Antonio “Tonyo” Carcel of Paref-Springdale paced the Cebuano’s carnage, while compatriot Jette Calderon and Carcel’s baby sister Kalyka pulled all stops to take the top three in the Mini-ROK division of the race.
Tonyo is fast becoming Cebu’s race circuit favorite having won five titles of the six races so far in this yearlong series, while smashing a previous fastest record time.
And as a cherry on top of an impressive weekend, Carcel suddenly found himself at the forefront in the race for the Junior Karter of the Year award.
The other legs of the series that Tonyo topped were in Cavite. He also won two in Cebu and one at the Enchanted Kingdom.
In the race, Tonyo, a seventh grader from Paref-Sprindale, displayed nothing but pure willpower and determination as he dominated the race right from the start.
“He won in all the heats and also posted the all-time fastest lap with 31.70 seconds,” said Tonyo’s father Niel, who accompanied him to the race.
Not only was it the fastest lap-time in last weekend’s race, but it erased the previous fastest record of 32.2 seconds.
Karter of the Year
Because of the victory, Tonyo now posts 424 points in the ranking for the Karter of the Year award, sideswiping closest rival, Asian standout Christian Gaddi, who had 384 points. Tonyo stands a good chance of winning the KOY title as long as he figures dominantly in the remaining two legs in the series.
Should he be named Karter of the Year, he will be the first Cebuano to win it in two years, after 2006 winner Paco Rodriguez, Gaddi is breathing down his neck with 384 points, with two legs remaining in the series. (MCB)
