FILIPINO driver Vencer John Suba bested a formidable field to pocket the premier Formula 125 Open Senior crown yesterday in the third leg of the 2012 Asian Karting Open Championships at Carmona Racetrack in Cavite.
Suba of Eagle Cement Racing Team zoomed ahead in the third lap and held off a furious challenge from Fern-C racing bet Milo Rivera and Indonesian Senna Sulaiman Noor to complete the 28-lap final in 20 minutes and 33.650 seconds.
Indonesia’s Yasuo Senna Iriawan of Red White Racing-Indonesia and Stefano Marcelo finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines.
Suba’s impressive win spoiled Indonesia’s bid for the crown after Noor topped the prefinal heat over Marcelo and Rivera.
Meanwhile, Japanese Marino Sato came from behind to nip Estefano Rivera of Fern-C and rule the 125 Formula Open Juniors.
Sato, who overtook Rivera in the 12th lap, clocked 18 minutes and 28.876 seconds, 1.996 seconds ahead of Rivera.
Jette Calderon of Red Bull-Industria Racing settled for third followed by Raymond Cudala of FERN-C Racing and Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier.
Darryl Wenas and Barichello Noor produced a 1-2 finish for Indonesia in the Mini-ROK race, spoiling the title-retention bid of Flynn Jackes of TRS-Castrol. Jackes spun out in the late laps and wound up fifth.
Cudala and AT Tuason of TRS-Castrol Kids also scored wins in the local races.
Cudala ruled the Yamaha Novice, while Tuason scored a repeat in the Formula Cadet Expert.
Wayne Norman Darvin reigned supreme in the Yamaha Expert class while Jose Luigi Lachica topped the Cadet Novice division.
The event was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and sponsored by Coca-Cola, Yokohama, Sparco, Vivere, Motorstar and Aeromed. C.P. Tupas