Floirendo top Golden Wheel Award prospect

THE BEST and brightest in Philippine motorsports last year will be recognized in a glittering presentation highlighting the 10th Golden Wheel Awards Night on March 16 at  Cultural Center of the Philippines.

While performances and guests are expected to add glitz and glamour to the event, the awarding of the Golden Wheel Driver of the Year and International Driver of the Year will be the major highlight of the affair themed “An Honor To Live, A Legacy To Pass On.”

All the standouts in different motorsport disciplines are part of the short list for the coveted award.

They are Vencer John Suba (karting), Alex Perez (drifting), Peewee Mendiola (slalom), Vincent Floirendo (grand touring), Red Diwa (4×4 offroad), Jonathan Tiu (drag racing), Rodney Caballero (classic cars), Glenn Aguilar (motocross), Raniel Resuello (superbikes), Anthony Roman (underbone racing) and Miko Montano (scooters).

Touring Car champ Floirendo of Davao, who won the Golden Wheel National Driver of  the Year last year, is fancied to duplicate his feat.

Floirendo could match the feats of karting queen Michelle Bumgarner, who pulled off the trick in 2003 and 2004, and drag racing champion Jonathan Tiu in 2008 and 2009.

The Golden Wheel has so far only handed out four International Driver of the Year honors—Glenn Aguilar in 2005 for Asian motocross, Tyson Sy in 2006 for Asian Formula 3 and Stefano Marcelo (2007) and Juha Turalba (2008) both for Asian karting.

“As we celebrate the decade of the Golden Wheel Awards Night, it is relevant that we give emphasis to the feats and milestones of our past Motorsports heroes to give the new generation of talented drivers something to emulate,” said Golden Wheels Foundation chair Johnny Tan. Cedelf P. Tupas