Nakamori scores double anew in karting series

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese ace Takaharu Nakamori pulled off another double-title feat as Apex Racing staked its claim as the country’s top karting team at the start of Petron ROK Karting Super Series at the Palawan International Circuit in Puerto Princesa recently.

Nakamori dished out top form in the 1.350-km long, 8-10 meter-wide racetrack to best the tough field and clinch both the ROK Senior Expert Blaze 100 and ROK Overall Blaze 100 crowns in Race 1 of the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.

He completed the 16-lap final race in 16 minutes, 44.931 seconds to top the ROK Senior Blaze 100 class, 9.866 seconds ahead of Larco Cortez.

Karl Wilhelm of Praga Racing and defending champion and Apex Racing Team owner Jerry Choi finished third and fourth, respectively, in the event sponsored by Petron, Petron Blaze 100 Euro 5, Petron XCS, Petron Ultron, Petron Xtra, Petron Sprint, Magnolia Pure Water and Yokohama the official tires.

Nakamori also copped the ROK Overall title with a 2.066 second margin over John Dizon of Edgesport Racing. Cortez came in third while Wilhelm and Praga Racing teammate Gabrielle Garcia ended up fourth and fifth, respectively.

Dizon, meanwhile, showed the way in the ROK Senior Novice Blaze 100 division over Garcia and Apex Racing’s John Mallen; Brian Curie of Colibri Racing Team took the X30 Senior Palawan title over Rahan Dale Dolor of Palawan Racing and Arvin Drueco of Edgesport  Racing, and also captured the X30 Veteran Palawan crown over Ephraim Mandal of Palawan Racing.