Coseteng grabs solo lead in Yokohama GT

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled Jody Coseteng flashed fine form to pull off a sweep and regain the solo lead in the fourth leg of the Yokohama Philippine GT Championship Series at the Clark International Speedway recently.

Defending champion Vincent Floirendo took control at the start but Coseteng rallied to wrest the lead and rule the Sprint and the Final races of the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by official tires Yokohama, official Oil Torco Racing Oil and Racing Beat@Wave 89.1.

The race was reduced to a three-way battle among Coseteng, Floirendo and Jojo Silverio after Stefano Marcelo’s car went ablaze in practice. 

Floirendo grabbed the pole in the Sprint race from Coseteng and Silverio. But Coseteng wrested the lead in the second lap at the main straight and never looked back as he completed the nine-lap race in 19 minutes, 3.452 seconds or 4.815 seconds ahead of Floirendo.

Silverio settled for third in 11.541 seconds behind Coseteng, while Dwight Kevin Carlos and Korean Mickey Kim of TRS-Castrol wound up fourth and fifth, respectively.

Floirendo tried to get back by taking the lead in the first five laps of the Final race. But Coseteng, running with a fast laptime of 2:07.220, took over the top spot at the turn en route to wrapping up the 15-lap race in 31 minutes, 47.385 seconds or 25.733 seconds ahead of Floirendo.

Silverio again settled for third while Mickey Kim and Arnel Carlos ended fourth and fifth, respectively.

With the sweep, Coseteng turned a four-point deficit into an 11-point margin over Floirendo, 168-157, heading to the next leg on Sept. 9 at the Batangas Racing Circuit and the championship on Oct. 14 at the Clark International Speedway.