TOP Filipino karter Gabriel Tayao Cabrera came through with a solid fifth-place finish in his season debut in the super-tough Rotax Max Invitational at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia recently.
Ranged against top-caliber drivers from the Asian region, Cabrera made a good account of himself as he followed up his fourth-place finish in the X30 Cup in Singapore with a strong performance in Malaysia.
It was an impressive feat for Cabrera who became the first Filipino senior karter to bag podium honors in both events.
The Malaysian race rewards the first five with podium spots.
Cabrera gets due recognition on Feb. 27 at the Golden Wheel Awards where he will receive the Karter of the Year and International Karter of the Year award.
“It has been a great five years of karting for me because it prepared me well as I climb higher up the motorsports ladder,” said Cabrera, the SeaOil-backed racer who will soon move up to car racing.
“I’m excited that my racing career is going up another level this year,” said Cabrera. “I’m not getting any younger. A lot of foreign drivers my age are already in cars, so I’m happy to graduate from karting at my peak.”