Tan takes control of Phimos series

Andre Tan produced an authoritative pole-to-pole victory in Race 3 and a strong second-place windup in Race 4 to seize the overall lead after two rounds of the 2019 Petron Philippine Motorsports Championships (Phimos) series at Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario town recently.

Tan, a 22-year-old graduate of international business at Ateneo’s European Studies Program, pipped veteran Milo Rivera and defending champion Edwin Rodriguez for top honors in the first race of the premier Yokohama Grand Touring 200 class.

He came back the next day to clinch his third runner-up finish in four starts.

With 35 points from the second of the six-round Phimos series, Tan wrested a three-point lead from teammate and erstwhile leader Paolo Santos with 65 points, with Rodriguez nine behind.

Lewy Manio ruled the GT 150 class’ second race over Russ Agapito after placing runner-up to Justin Neri overnight to widen his lead in the series with 67 points, a massive 32 points clear of Agapito and 37 ahead of Kelly Esteban.

Carlo Angelo Mojica extended his victory streak to four in the GT 100 and Rookie classes for 80 points, with Jeff Pobadora and Drew Manio far behind in second and third spots in both brackets.