Bautista cops first Retro Touring title

BRIAN Bautista finished with a flourish to emerge pioneer champion of the 1st TRS Retro Touring Car Philippines recently at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Batangas.

Driving a Volkswagen, Bautista pulled the rug from under time trial topnotcher and Race 1 winner Albert Quiroz in the final race to finish on top of the podium.

Quiroz, on a Lancer Box-type, wound up third in Race 2, where Carlos Castañeda took second spot on his Mini-Cooper.

It was a trip down memory lane for spectators as they were treated to an exhibition of classic cars, including VW Beetles, Toyota Starlets and Ford Escorts on the grid.

Bautista also bagged the crown in the VW Class A over Bayer and Arvir Gervacio while Castañeda bagged the Mini-Cooper plum over Rueven Locson and Jun Mallari.

Quiroz emerged champion in the Old School category over Danby Yaptinchay in his Toyota Celica and Ferdie Sia aboard his Toyota Sprinter.

After topping the time trials, Quiroz moved into pole position for Race 1, where he needed to hold off the challenge coming from Bautista.

Bautista started strong in Race 2, but needed to survive a series of maneuvers from Quiroz, who eventually shot himself on the foot when he went off the track at the Casino Filipino Bend.

The 1st Retro Touring Car Philippines was supported by Castrol, Bridgestone, Standard Insurance, Coke Zero, OMP, AAP, Ford Alabang, Emotions, Speedlab, Aguila Auto Glass, Lifeline Ambulance and PLDT Fibr. Steve Silva, Contributor