Cabrera makes smashing start in super karting series

MANILA, Philippines - Young Gabe Tayao Cabrera upstaged his seasoned rivals to dominate the premier KF Senior Blaze 100 class at the start of the KF Karting Super Series at the Carmona Racetrack in Carmona, Cavite recently.

Moving up in the higher division, the 2014 Junior Karter of the Year still proved his worth, winning three of the first four rounds while besting 2012 top karter John Suba in a thrilling duel to the delight of the crowd.

Cabrera, 15, prevailed in the first round via 1.747-second win but Suba struck back in Round 2, edging newcomer Ben Grimes as Cabrera took the early exit with just five laps to go. 

But Cabrera bounced back strong in Round 3 by just 0.036 of a second and in Round 4 where his kart landing on top of Suba’s before claiming the checkered flag with a 6.967 second lead.           

The feat thus put Cabrera a step ahead for the KF Karter of the Year crown and the much coveted 2015 Karter of the Year plum in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Yokohama as the official tires.

The KF Karting accounts for half of the tabulation for the 2015 Karter of the Year award with the other half based on the points garnered in the ROK Karting Super Series.

Jacob Ang of Eagle Cement, son of San Miguel Corp. chief Ramon Ang, dictated the tempo in the KF Junior division and went on to post victories in the first three rounds but a busted engine spoiled his bid for a big sweep, paving the way for Larco Cortez of Formula-E Racing to claim Round 4 over newcomer Sam Grimes of CityKart with John Dizon, Tai Zulberti and Draeco McLelland winding up third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Michael Jordan swept all four rounds of the KF Master class over Julius Milla.

Meanwhile, the 2015 National ROK Karting Super Series will be held March 21-22 also at the Carmona Racetrack. For details, call the Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit the website www.asiankarting.net.