Top Asian riders collide in Asian Karting opener

MANILA, Philippines - The best of Asia vie for the various titles at stake in the kickoff leg of the 2010 Asian Karting Open Championships set June 11-13 at the Carmona race track.

With defending champion Tin Sritrai of Thailand shifting to Formula racing, the race for the Asian karting crown will be an open war among 70 karters from eight countries which have confirmed their participation in this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.

The other participants come from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau, Hongkong and Japan.

The karters will clash for the titles in the Mini-ROK, Rotax Max, ROK Junior, ROK Senior, Formula 125 Open Junior, Formula 125 Open Senior, the Yamaha Cup Junior, Yamaha Cup Senior, the SQ class and Formula Novice division.

Last year saw the Indonesians dominating the event, bringing home five of the 11 overall titles at stake behind Presley Martomo (Cadet), Denzel Sofyan (ROK Junior), Andhika Sasabone (Rotax Max Jr.), Mohammed Sharif Raharjo (Formula 125 Open Jr.) and Ryan Anthony Monoarfa (Rotax Max Sr.)

The Filipinos hope to regain their supremacy with the comeback of ace karter Stefano Marcelo of Maranello-San Miguel Corporation-Marcelo Racing, plus other top contenders led by former Asian Karting ROK champion Juha Turalba, Ready2Race karter Roby Benito, Jet Racing’s Javi Benitez, Andres Calma of Full Throttle Racing, AUTS Racing’s Indy Villalon and Joseph Castelar, and defending Karter of the Year Joey Orduna.

Last year, the Philippines ended second as it only got three titles behind Marino Sato in the Mini-ROK, Estefano Rivera of PCR-Tough Gear Racing-Fern C in the Yamaha Junior and Indy Villalon in the Yamaha Senior.

The event is sponsored by Yokohama, Red-White Racing Indonesia, Magnolia Purewater, Petron, San Miguel Corporation, Vivere Hotel, Department of Tourism, Philippine Sports Commission, Pagcor Sports, Palmer Asia Inc., Aeromed and Motorstar.

Among the other top local karters to watch are Ready2Race bet Basti Escalante and PCR-Tough Gear Racing-Fern C’s Carl Pollington and Aira Medrano in the Mini-ROK; Jette Calderon, Jet Racing’s Franco Reyes, AUTS Racing’s Tonyo Carcel, PCR-Tough Gear Racing-Fern C’s Estefano Rivera and Vrei-Ar Suba, and Yasuo Senna Iriawan of Red White Racing in the Formula 125 Open Junior.