MANILA, Philippines - Young champs Jacob Ang of San Miguel and Tai Zulberti of CityKart staged big comebacks to rule their respective classes in the fourth leg of the 2012 Philippine National Karting Series recently at the Carmona Racetrack.
After ending deadlast in the qualifying heat, the 10-year-old Ang made a determined turn-around and topped the Pre-Final and Final races for his second Formula Cadet Novice crown in this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Motorstar and Aeromed.
Francis Tanlu of AUTSRacing settled for runner-up honors while Eduardo Coseteng Jr. took third place, followed by Jose Luigi Lachica of One Racing and Mickey Jordan.
Zulberti, who finished third in the qualifying and second in the Pre-Final, rallied to forge a tight three-way showdown with SEAOIL-Kart Wrecker Dylan Arambulo and AT Tuason of Castrol-TRS Kids for the lead in the dying laps and pulled the crucial move near the finish line to clinch the Formula Cadet Expert title.
He finished the 15-lap final race in 13 minutes, 15.298 seconds, just 0.419 of a second ahead of second-placer Arambulo. Tuason, who was leading most of the way, settled for third.
Jacob Chamness of CityKart and Xedrei Daquigan landed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Despite Zulberti’s triumph, Arambulo still kept the solo lead with 254 points, maintaining a nine-point advantage over the former.
The Formula SL class was equally exciting with Raymond Cudala of SEAOIL-Kart Wreckers and Jaz Monzones of Natmo Asia-GP1 Racing winning the Novice and Expert titles, respectively.
Cudala took the limelight from previous winners as he swept all three heats, beating even the Expert karters in the combined 20-lap final race to turn back AUTSRacing bets Carl Luig and Brian Thorp.
Carlos Lorenzo and Bjonar Eikevik wound up fourth and fifth, respectively.
Monzones checked in second overall in the said combined race to claim the Formula SL Expert crown anew over Yvana Carangan of AUTSRacing and Wayne Darvin. He fortified his hold of solo leadership with 261 points.
Flynn Jackes of Castrol-TRS Kids topped the Mini-ROK class over Gabe Cabrera of SEAOIL-Kart Wreckers and Daquigan.
For more info, interested parties may call the Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit the website www.asiankarting.com