VETERAN racer Carlos Anton and 14–year-old son Iñigo took command of the Philippine Autocross Championship after finishing first and second overall in the recently concluded Balloon Festival Autocross Race in Clark field Pampanga.
The pair on board the well prepared Mark Young-Yokohama Honda CRX set quickest times over Vios Cup Champion racer Estefano Rivera and a field of over 40 other race car drivers.
Baguio Achiever’s Academy grade 9 student Iñigo set the pace early on and took the best time of the day but his father soon took it over and battled it out with Rivera until the latter conceded.
The racing phenom then took to the track again and set a time good enough to beat Rivera but not his father.
Iñigo also set a fourth straight open class championship win to extend his lead for the crown in the hotly contested division. With the win, the pair now leads the championship at the halfway point as the young Anton prepares for the Vios Autocross races starting April 27.
Unknown to most, Iñigo’s Honda EF racecar blew its engine the day before the race so he had to use his father’s CRX which is not very well accustomed to. “It’s amazing how Iñigo was able to adapt to my car so quickly, in the end he almost beat me,” Carlos Anton said after the race.
“I’m so thankful we got the 1-2 finish today and the OPEN CLASS for the 4th straight time today. I really tried to beat my dad today but he was just too fast,” said a jubilant Iñigo.
The Antons are sponsored by Mark Young Racing, Yokohama, Castrol, JSD Autosport, Special Stage, Kilton, Kart Plaza, Parts Pro, Car Porn Racing, Cars Unlimited, and Mohspeed.