Ex-karter seizes Vios Cup pole post

CLARK, Philippines – Daniel Miranda of Obengers flashed top form in the qualifying session to take pole position heading into today’s kickoff race of the Vios Cup Season 3 at the Clark International Speedway.

Miranda, the former karting champ, submitted the best qualifying time of 2:25.579 to get the number one grid slot in the new Super Sporting Class, the top-tier division in the one-make racing series which rolls out with a record field of 55 racers this year.

Estefano Rivera of Toyota Alabang logged 2:25.733 and 2015 Vios Cup champion Andres Calma of GM Motorsports recorded 2:25.811 as they got 2-3 positions in the category that bunched together the 15 top racers from all categories based on overall scores from previous races.

Miko Marestela of Toyota Quezon Avenue-Tonnies led the Sporting Class with a best clocking of 2:27.988, followed by Sam YG of TMP (2:28.347), the 2015 Celebrity Class titlist who was promoted to a higher division this year. At third was Alexis Salvador of Toyota San Fernando with 2:28.372.

Jinno Rufino of TMP rose to the top in the combined Promotional/Celebrity categories with a best effort of 2:31.352. He was ahead of Marc Martinez of Marc Cars (2:31.724) and Bobby Pangilinan of Toyota Cebu (2:31.767).

An opening program slated at 10 a.m. today formally sets off the high-octane races in the series, largely considered as the biggest motorsports event in the country. This year’s field, which drew new participants like celeb Jericho Rosales and B-Licence racer Keith Bryan Haw, easily surpassed the participation of 41 in 2015 and 37 in its inaugural staging two years ago.

Fast-paced action gets going at 11 a.m. with drivers from the Celebrity and Promotional Classes hitting the tracks first followed by the Sporting and Super Sporting Classes for Heat One.

The racers hit the grid again for Heat Two beginning at 3 p.m.