MANILA, Philippines - Young ace karters will be the focus of attention as the 2016 Petron Tri-Activ ROK Karting Super Series gets going today at the newly built Shell-Palawan International Circuit in Barangay Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa.
The ROK Karting Super Series is the longest-running annual karting series, which has produced several world-class talents including Filipino F1 driver Marlon Stockinger as Petron Tri-Activ renewed its commitment as title sponsor in its thrust to discover and develop future Filipino racing champions.
The event is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Petron, Petron Blaze 100 Euro 4, Petron XCS, Petron Ultron, Petron Xtra, Petron Sprint, Magnolia Pure Water and Yokohama.
Much of the focus will be on the X30 Junior Blaze 100 division, which promises to be more exciting and nerve-wracking this season with the tight five-way battle for the crown among Eduardo Coseteng Jr., John Dizon, returning Dylan Arambulo and Empire-Red Bull Racing bets Bianca Bustamante and Keon Romoff.
In the previous races, none of them gave in to pressure as they stayed too close to each other throughout the race. Non-stop dicing made it all unpredictable to determine the winner until the checkered flag was raised since only fractions of a second separated the five karters at the finish line.
And the scenario turned even more complicated as last year’s Asian Karting Junior champion Jacob Ang of Eagle Cement confirmed Thursday night that he would be joining the hunt for the X30 Junior Blaze 100 plum, making it a five-way racing spectacle for the local Palawan crowd.
Ang likewise will be gunning for the ROK Senior Expert Blaze 100 crown against Jerry Choi, Rainer Te of Kilton Racing Team, Brian Currie of Palawan Racing Team, Hong Kong karter Tsui Cheuk Kan and Karl Wihelm of Praga Racing Team.
Empire-Red Bull Racing top gun Jarred Kim also seeks to stamp his supremacy anew in the Mini-ROK XCS class as he expects another close fight against equally tough rivals Inigo Anton, Zach David, Khazart Romoff, Cebuano Seven Aleman and Singaporean Aidan Quek.
Quek is also eyeing a repeat over top favorite Inigo Anton for the Formula Cadet Expert Ultron plum while Romoff seeks another big win in the Formula Cadet Novice Ultron class over William Go, Miguel Angeles and Junho Kim.
But even more important is how these karters tap their talents, wits and strategy to survive the challenge of the highly technical 1.350-km long, 8-10 meter-wide Palawan International Circuit.
Local bet Boy Lustre of the Palawan Racing Team hopes to make the hometown crowd proud as he tackles two Cebu Racing Team karters Paolo Ayo and Andrew Go for the Formula KT 100 title.
Young female karters Joy Tan, Novelyn Favila, April Andrews, Sharifa Maranan, Melody Alvarez, Ida Villadolid, and Jonavi Raisa Quiray are expected to provide a charming performance as they dispute the ladies class crown.
More info: Carmona Racetrack c/o Rose Feria at 845-0745, 889-3389, 845-3287 and 845-4142 or visit the website www.asiankarting.net.