RP, foreign karters mix it up for 12 titles

CARMONA, Cavite – Top local karters plunge into action against foreign rivals today in the Philippine leg of the 2008 Asian Karting Open Championship at the Carmona Circuit Philippines here.

Carmona Mayor Roy Loyola and Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) executive director Mandy Eduque will be the guests of honor together with RP Motorsports godfather and AKOC organizer Johnny Tan in tomorrow’s opening ceremonies of this annual spectacle sponsored by PagCor Sports, San Miguel Corporation, Pilipinas Shell, Palmer Asia, Department of Tourism and Vivere Hotel.

Some 70 participants from Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and host Philippines will be vying for 12 titles in the Formula 125 Open Seniors, Formula 125 Open Junior, the Cadet 60, Mini-ROK, ROK Junior, the ROK Senior, Rotax Max Junior, Rotax Max Senior, Rotax Max Veterans, and the featured races in the Yamaha Cup Junior, Yamaha Cup Senior and Yamaha Cup Heavy.

Accumulated points during the qualifying heats will be the basis for the pole position for tomorrow morning’s pre-final event.

The Philippines has successfully defended the overall championship on its home turf for the past five years through the feats of two-time Asian Karting Queen Michele Bumgarner, two-time Karter of the Year Matteo Guidicelli and Ivan Carapiet.

In the Macau kickoff, Filipinos emerged the overall champions with three titles.