Daryl DeLeon earns hard-fought podiums in Radical Cup UK SR3 outing at Snetterton

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Daryl DeLeon earns hard-fought podiums in Radical Cup UK SR3 outing at Snetterton

Although winning is always the preferred option, Daryl DeLeon Taylor is pleased just to maintain his streak of podium finishes in the Hagerty Radical Cup UK. If truth be told, the Filipino-British driver simply did not have the speed to challenge for the lead when the series visited Snetterton over the weekend. Yet, he still delivered 3 hard-fought podium finishes to keep his championship hopes alive.

He and Valour Racing arrived at the 4.779 km circuit with high hopes especially after scoring 2 wins at Brands Hatch a month ago. Despite a gearbox issue forcing them to miss out on a few test sessions, the time sheets showed a lot of promise with Daryl setting fast times.

The 17-year-old maintained this pace during Qualifying and with new tires, clocked a lap that should have given him pole position for the races. Unfortunately, the time was later deleted for exceeding track limits with his next best lap being only good enough for P3 on the grid.

After making a clean getaway at the start of Race 1, Daryl then proceeded to challenge Ben Caisley for P2 and eventually got past on the second lap. But by that time, race leader James Lay was already too far ahead and too quick to catch up. Daryl would later cross the line in 2nd place, 8.086 secs behind Lay and 24.119 secs ahead of Caisley.

Race 2 was a fairly lonely drive for the #20 red-and-silver Radical SR3. Daryl held position as the lights turned green with Lay and Caisley speeding off into the distance. Daryl just could not match the pace of the 2 and settled for 3rd place to collect valuable points for the championship.

Valour Racing made set up changes to his SR3 ahead of Race 3 to help Daryl fight at the front. This would allow him to edge ahead of Caisley on the opening lap, slot into P2 spot, and begin to catch up to Lay. Daryl was making good progress and rejoined the track in P4 after making his mandatory pit stop (with a hefty 15 secs success penalty). He then gained another position before trailing behind Chris Preen who was in P2. But just because they were Valour Racing teammates doesn’t mean Preen will make life easy for Daryl as the Filipino-British driver tried to find a way past. The pair were nose-to-tail all the way to the chequered flag with Daryl maintaining 3rd.

From leading the championship heading into Snetterton, Daryl DeLeon Taylor drops a spot in the Drivers’ Standings to 2nd but only a single point behind James Lay who was unbeatable all weekend. He’ll be aiming to regain the top spot in the championship when the Hagerty Radical Cup UK resumes on the 17th and 18th of June at Oulton Park.

Daryl DeLeon Taylor: “Overall a good weekend with a pair of 3rd place finishes and a 2nd. With the speed that we had, I really couldn’t complain. It’s good points for the championship and we’re still in the fight. I think we need to regroup and bounce back hard at the next round. I’d just like to thank everyone involved Valour Racing, my mom and dad for their support, Time Attack Manila, and Train Maintenance Services. I think Snetterton was a tough one but we got to the end and that’s what matters.”

Daryl DeLeon Taylor is supported by Train Maintenance Services (TMS).

For news and updates, Like the Daryl DeLeon Racing page on Facebook, follow @daryldeleon on Instagram, or visit daryltaylorracing.com.

Ducati riders fill up Pirelli Cup class podiums at BRC season opener

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Ducati riders fill up Pirelli Cup class podiums at BRC season opener

Thanks to the masterclass performance of six fine gentlemen, Ducati Philippines enjoyed a dominant weekend at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC) last May. A mixture of Ducati sport, sport naked, and supermoto race bikes were entered in Pirelli Cup’s opening event of the year and took home a collection of class victories and podiums for the Italian marque.

Justin Guce and Jan Timbol where the quickest riders in the group and lead the way in the Super A Class. Justin who happens to be the brand’s newest recruit was a natural on his Panigale V4 and set the fastest time in Qualifying. Racing on slick tires in mixed weather conditions proved to be a bit of a challenge, but Justin skillfully kept his Ducati in control to finish 2nd in Race 1 with Jan crossing the line not too far behind in 3rd. The pair would then switch positions in Race 2 to secure four podium finishes for Ducati in Super A.

Last year’s Ducati Cup Sportsbike Sub1000 champion Jade Regalario decided to move up to the Pirelli Cup in 2023 and take on the other brands. In a span of five months, he had to train hard as he switched from a Panigale V2 to a Panigale V4. All his hard work and training courtesy of Tofu Track Riding Clinic eventually paid off as he scored two 1st place finishes in the Rookie Class.

Another pair of new Ducatis likewise proved the brand’s performance on track. Ric Cruz with his Streetfighter V4S and Pong Lacson with his Hypermotard SP had very little practice before the race weekend, but both still managed to excel in the Naked Class. Ric also shared that he had to adjust from riding a sport bike last year to a naked bike in 2023 and still won both races on his first official competitive outing with Ducati. Pong, on the other hand, completed the podium for the team with his two 2nd place finishes.

It was a welcome surprise to see Alvin Pullon enter the event with his Panigale V4 S. With no prior track or race experience in BRC, Alvin arrived on Friday to practice and only decided to join the Heavyweight B Class on the very same day. He was then quickest in his class during Qualifying on Saturday and enjoyed a 2nd and 1st place finish on Sunday. Aside from riding a very capable Panigale V4 S, he shared that the support he received from Ducati Philippines encouraged him to perform well.

All in all, Ducati Philippines took home five class victories and seven podium finishes in the Pirelli Cup’s first event of 2023. The team’s entries in the Philippine Superbike Championship (PSBK) also gave them more reason to celebrate with riders Timothy Joseph “TJ” Alberto and Lawrence Macalinao adding to their tally of wins. Access Plus Racing enjoyed a perfect season opener with their pole positions, two race wins in the Pro Class, and two race wins in the Expert Class, allowing them to score full points for the 2023 championship.

Two other riders on the PSBK grid also took home podium finishes for Ducati. Josh Tan entered a Panigale V4 in the Intermediate, Novice, and Master Classes with good results. His efforts were rewarded with four class wins, two podiums, and a remarkable Top 5 finish in Race 2 crossing the finish just behind Lawrence. His fellow Ducati rider Lorenz Villanueva likewise brought home trophies in the Intermediate and Novice Classes with his own Panigale V4.

Ducati Philippines is owned and operated by T.A. Marketing Inc. located at 222 Katipunan Ave., Blueridge A, Quezon City.

Vito Nazal, Melwin Tan participate in joint single-seater test at CIS

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Vito Nazal, Melwin Tan participate in joint single-seater test at CIS

A pair of emerging young Filipino talents are taking a big leap in 2023. Vito Nazal and Melwin Tan, who spent several years in karting, have confirmed plans of moving up to single-seaters in the not so distant future. And to kick start their journey, the pair recently joined a one-day test at the Clark International Speedway (CIS) to get a taste what it’s like in the driver’s seat.

Vito first got into motorsports at the age of 6. His experience mostly revolved around the Sodi World Series, which is a global go-karting championship. The event allow drivers from around the world to compete on equal machinery where Vito enjoyed several race wins. He then signed with Mercedes Young Driver Development Philippines a few years ago to race in the national karting series, but plans were put on indefinite hold due to the pandemic.

Melwin, on the other hand, took a slightly different approach. He started in Cadets when he was 12 and achieved moderate success with several podium finishes. His stint in MiniRok yielded even better results as he competed in both local and international races such as in Malaysia, China, and Macau. But because of the pandemic, he had to sit out a few years and by the time he returned in 2021 was already old enough for the Senior Class, skipping Juniors completely.

Now both 17-years-old, they’re making a comeback to motorsports in a big way.

The pair shared one car during a single day of testing at CIS. The Tatuus FA010 they drove was the exact same chassis driven by Zach David years before he moved up to Formula 4, which comes equipped with a 1.4L Fiat turbocharged engine with a 6-speed sequential box. Vito and Melwin took turns at every session to get a feel how a single-seater drives, cope with the higher G forces, and learn how to drive with aero.

Improving on lap time, however, was not part of the curriculum. The goal was to simply to familiarize themselves with the new machinery before they race overseas.

Vito and Melwin shared that they already have plans to continue testing in Europe in the coming months. There they’ll be able to drive a more current chassis and on bigger tracks that are part of the Italian Formula 4 calendar. With a full racing team behind them, the two Filipino drivers should also pick up the pace quicker as they benchmark their times (and data) against the best drivers in the series.

If all goes to plan, we should see the two line up on the grid sometime in late 2023 or early 2024.

Zach David breaks PREMA’s streak at Misano with Italian F4 podium

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Zach David breaks PREMA’s streak at Misano with Italian F4 podium

At the Italian F4 Championship’s second event at Misano Circuit, all podium positions were swept by PREMA Powerteam drivers… except for one spot. That went to Zachary ‘Zach’ David who spoiled their dominance last May with his 3rd place finish at the final race of the weekend.

Coming from a successful season debut at Imola, Zach was looking forward to race at the technical 4.064 km track just an hour’s drive down south. However, the Filipino driver immediately knew that overtaking here will be a bit of a challenge. He also had to manage tire degradation given the circuit’s surface and layout. Still, US Racing did a stellar job to find the best setup for his #20 entry during Free Practice and the Official Tests that he was consistently within the Top 10 in the time tables.

But the field was so competitive that less than half a second separated P1 up to P10 during Qualifying. Zach was 0.197 secs off pole at best yet was only good enough for P7 on the grid.

It was just unfortunate that all his hard work was undone in a matter of several hundred meters in Race 1. Contact with another driver caused a puncture at the start and forced him to retire. Thankfully, the car sustained no damage and he was back ready to fight in Race 2.

Zach was able to pick up 2 positions in the opening laps before settling into P6. He then attempted to climb higher up the standings, but simply didn’t have the pace to find a way past the other drivers. At the end of 20 laps, he would cross the finish line 6th overall and claim his first Rookie podium of the weekend in 3rd.

Starting from the second row of the grid in Race 3 gave him a better shot at the PREMA drivers. He had good pace and stuck with McLaren Formula 1 junior driver Ugo Ugochukwu from start-to-finish. Zach eventually took the chequered flag in 3rd overall (and 2nd amongst the Rookies) to break PREMA’s podium lockout.

The lone Filipino driver on the grid is currently 4th overall in the Drivers’ Standings after only 2 rounds. The Italian F4 Championship will head to the famed Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for Round 3 on the 26th/28th of May.

Zach David: “Overall a good weekend. Broke the Prema hold on the podium in Race 3. Good improvements made, consistent point finishes, and another podium means we have many things to look forward to in the third round at Spa.”

 

Zach David is sponsored by Ceramic Pro, Ceramic Pro Express, Kavaca PPF, Stilo Helmets, Eeetwell, Attard Baldacchino, and Exoshield, with support from Petron Corporation, Ravenol, JG Summit Olefins Corporation, AlbertSmith Signs, Time Attack Manila, Everpower, FB Hout, Pet One Petfood, 3CX, and Malta Motorsports Federation.

For more info and the latest updates, follow ZachdavidRacing on Facebook and @zachdavidkarting on Instagram.

DRIFT MOTOR Speedway’s Yuan Bugayong triumphs in Petron Cadet karts at Palawan

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DRIFT MOTOR Speedway’s Yuan Bugayong triumphs in Petron Cadet karts at Palawan

Yuan Gavin Bugayong is one of the newest drivers on the grid at this year’s Petron Motorsports Karting Academy Super Karting Series. Yet, this 11-year-old has already won 2 out of 2 events in 2023, with his latest victory coming from the Palawan International Circuit (PIC).

It’s somewhat fair to say that this kid ‘lives on the race track’. His family owns and operates DRIFT MOTOR Speedway in Taytay, Rizal where he first got into karting when the facility opened back in August of 2022. Although he gets to drive A LOT at his home track, stepping up into Formula Cadets is still a big leap for young Yuan. He had to adapt from electric karts (that could only go up to 45 km/h) to 4-stroke 200cc petrol-power. Then there’s the places that he races on. Compared to the tight-and-twisty indoor venue he’s used to, he now has to contend with much larger circuits that are open to the weather.

Yuan got his first taste of a class victory at the Carmona Race Track (CRT) in March. Impressively, he finished 1st in Formula Cadet Novice on his series debut and 2nd overall across the finish line. His team DRIFT MOTOR Racing Team then decided to see how they would measure up at the 1.300 km track in Palawan for Round 2 of the championship.

In spite of limited practice on an unfamiliar circuit, Yuan immediately went fastest overall during Warm Up on Saturday morning. He was then 2nd during the Time Trial just behind Cadet Expert Class driver Lucas Aldave. The pair was inseparable in Qualifying Heat 1 and exchanged places at almost every lap. But as he was competing in a different category, Yuan decided to play the long game as not to risk committing a mistake and stayed behind Lucas across the line but still 1st in his class.

A sudden downpour on Sunday morning mixed things up for Qualifying Heat 2. Yuan misjudged the drying surface and overshot Turn 1 on the very first lap and mowed across the slippery grass runoff. This is where his indoor karting experience paid off that allowed him to catch the slide and rejoin the track without losing too much time in P5. The excursion, surprisingly, had little to no effect on Yuan and even pushed him to drive harder. He fought his way back up the standings over the course of 7 laps to finish 1st Overall with a huge 16.700 secs lead.

With the track now all dried up, Yuan wasted no time to take the race lead during the Finals. The DRIFT MOTOR Racing Team karter would open up another massive 5.923 secs advantage when the chequered flag dropped to secure 1st Overall and in Cadet Novice, with the fastest lap of the race in tow.

Thanks to his impressive performance in Palawan, Yuan now leads the championship in Formula Cadet Novice by 34 points. While the next round is still in July at the Clark International Speedway Kart Track, there are plans for the young karter to enter the Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC) in Macau at the end of June.

Yuan Bugayong is supported by DRIFT XAUST, K&N Filters Philippines, AmsOil Philippines, and Motolite Quick Delivery.

[Photos courtesy of Rotax Max Challenge Philippines]

Access Plus Racing puts in perfect start to 2023 PSBK campaign at BRC

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Access Plus Racing puts in perfect start to 2023 PSBK campaign at BRC

Securing 2 pole positions, 2 race victories in the Pro Category, and another 2 wins in the Expert Class, Access Plus Racing couldn’t have had a more perfect start to the 2023 Philippine Superbike Championship (PSBK). Its riders Timothy Joseph “TJ” Alberto and Lawrence Macalinao were untouchable last May 6/7 at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC), making them the team to beat this season.

Work for 2023 began right after the final event of 2022. Aside from working on rider development, it was also an opportunity to fine tune their latest-spec Ducati Panigale V4 R and V4 S. Results from pre-season tests showed a lot of promise, which translated into results during the first event of the year.

TJ immediately topped the time sheets during Qualifying with a 1:33.361 lap to set a new personal best on the 3.500 km track. It allowed him to secure pole position and clear his nearest rivals by more than a full second. Lawrence mirrored his teammate’s performance to end up P4 overall and P1 amongst the Expert Class riders, giving Access Plus Racing confidence ahead of Sunday.

Race 1 was a dream result for both riders. TJ rocketed off the line and left everyone in his wake. The #77 Ducati Philippines rider built a massive 16.257 secs lead over a span of 11 laps to deliver a dominant lights-to-flag victory. Lawrence was also miles ahead of the competition in the Expert Class. His lead was unchallenged from start-to-finish to claim his first class win of the weekend.

Both riders were back at the front in Race 2. It was a replay of the morning’s performance with both TJ and Lawrence enjoying another lights-to-flag win in their respective classes, completing the perfect race weekend for Access Plus Racing with full 50 championship points for each rider.

After such a dominant start to the 2023 Philippine Superbike Championship (PSBK), the team is hoping for a repeat at Round 2 on June 3/4 as the series returns to the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC).

TJ Alberto, #77: “We have taken 50 points from the first 2 races and I cannot thank the team enough for their hard work with our new bike. They have been incredible on improving the Panigale V4 R and improve on the strong base we developed last year. I feel really good for this season, strong and fit, and looking forward to the next race in 3 weeks.”

Lawrence Macalinao, #26: “Very happy that we got P1 in Qualifying, P1 in Race 1, and P1 again in Race 2. We bagged 50 points for the Expert Class which helps our goal to win the championship this year. We made some setup changes to my Panigale V4 S that now better suits my riding style. With this I was able to push more confidently and even logged by personal best lap around BRC. We’re expecting my times to improve in the succeeding rounds and stay in front.”

Toti Alberto, Team Principal: “It’s a very fulfilling opening round for us. We’ve been preparing for this months ago. We never had an off season break and been hard at work since the last race of 2022. Now the results speak for themselves. TJ is so much above the competition, which also makes it safer for him and us as a family. Also proud of Lawrence. He has really stepped up his performance this year and delivered wins in his class. Thank you Lord that it all went well.”

Access Plus Racing is sponsored by Ducati Philippines, Angkas, Shell Advance Motorcycle Oils, Frontrow, Makati Diamond Residences, Katinko Oil and Ointment, Macbeth, Aella, LV8 Elevate, Extreme Components, STM, and Öhlins Racing.

Wins at Brands Hatch give Daryl DeLeon championship lead in Radical Cup UK SR3

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Wins at Brands Hatch give Daryl DeLeon championship lead in Radical Cup UK SR3

Jumping straight from one series to another, Daryl DeLeon Taylor was back at Brands Hatch just a week after his British Endurance Championship (BEC) podium in a 911 GT3 Cup Car. For this occasion though he was competing in the Hagerty Radical Cup UK where he would finish in 1st twice and 2nd once to snatch the PRO SR3 points lead.

Round 2 of the 2023 championship utilized the full 3.916 km GP circuit, which took Daryl and Valour Racing only a day’s worth of running to fine tune the setup of his #2 Radical SR3 wrapped in a new red-and-grey livery. This gave the Filipino-British driver full confidence heading into Qualifying on Saturday morning where he managed to set the bar high early on with a 1:26.191 lap. However, he was unable to improve on his time as he was caught up in traffic during the closing stages and was pipped for pole position.

Still, it was good enough for a front row start in Race 1. Daryl immediately challenged for the lead as soon as the lights went out and got past pole sitter James Lay going into Druids. But their chase was interrupted twice due to lengthy Safety Car periods, leaving them with only a short 2-lap sprint to the finish where he secured his first PRO SR3 win.

Lay and Daryl were again side-by-side at the start of Race 2, except this time only one came out of Druids pointing at the right direction. The light contact slowed Daryl down, allowing Ben Caisley to sneak past into P1 before the Safety Car was called out on track. Caisley’s lead though was short lived after Daryl made a pass after the restart then took control of the race from that point on to claim another win.

The final race of the weekend was a long 40-minute endurance with a mandatory pitstop in between. Daryl found a way past Lay in the opening stages before focusing on setting quick, consistent laps to open up a gap. He needed to compensate for a 15 secs success penalty incurred from the previous event, which required him to stop longer in the pits. Despite his best efforts, Daryl found himself down in P11 when he rejoined and now had to muscle his way back to the front. The 17-year-old picked off the competition one after another while navigating through backmarkers as the laps ticked way. He eventually made is as high as 2nd, but could no longer reach Caisley in the lead when the race was red flagged.

His pair of wins and a podium at Brands Hatch GP allows Daryl DeLeon Taylor to surge into the PRO SR3 championship lead 29 points ahead of James Lay. The Hagerty Radical Cup UK will now head to Snetterton on May 20/21 as the 2023 season reaches its halfway point.

Daryl DeLeon Taylor: “Overall a really good weekend at Brands Hatch. Massive thank you to Valour Racing. The car they supplied me looked great with its new livery and was really fast. Good to come away with a pair of 1st place finishes and a 2nd, giving us the lead in the championship. We’re in a good position going into Round 3 at Snetterton, which is supporting the BTCC race in May.”

Daryl DeLeon Taylor is supported by Train Maintenance Services (TMS).

For news and updates, Like the Daryl DeLeon Racing page on Facebook, follow @daryldeleon on Instagram, or visit daryltaylorracing.com.

Axel Nocom bitten (but not beaten) by ants in Palawan en route to MiniRok victory

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Axel Nocom bitten (but not beaten) by ants in Palawan en route to MiniRok victory

11-year-old Axel Nocom remains undefeated in the MiniRok XCS Series after the 2023 championship visited the Palawan International Circuit (PIC) in April. The only real threat to his dominance so far have been, would you be believe, an army of ants.

With education being his family’s top priority and clashing school schedules, Axel only arrived at the track on Friday morning before the race weekend. Although this limited his practice runs, it was of little concern for team Mercedes Young Driver Development Philippines. We’ve been told that Axel is being conditioned to adapt to any track, in any condition in the shortest time possible. This is to prepare him for regional or international events where jam-packed schedules are common, giving drivers only a handful of sessions to find the limit.

What’s even more remarkable is that this young talent does not rely on a personal lap timer to improve on pace. Instead, he relies on pure driving feel and other reference points, such as his gap to other karters on track, to determine how quick (or slow) he really is.

Axel would top the time sheets right from the get go, setting the fastest lap of any MiniRok driver all weekend with a 1:08.171 during the Warm Up session on Saturday. He was also quickest during the Time Trials, 1st in Qualifying Heat 1, and also in Heat 2.

The 3x MiniRok champion was so far ahead of the competition that he had no real threat on track… that was until the Finals on Sunday. While still in the lead, he was seen to be in great discomfort as he franticly reached into his race suit collar. Something was clearly upsetting Axel enough to slow him down and let his competitors to catch up. It was just fortunate that he had built such a big gap that he still crossed the finish line 4.138 secs ahead of 2nd place.

Records show that Axel has always won the Finals every time he races at the Palawan International Circuit. It’s only this year that he was almost beaten by, of all things, an army of ants that was biting on his neck during the race. Though still in pain and a bit swollen, Axel took the top step on the podium in MiniRok to further extend his championship lead.

It’s going to be a long 2-month break until the season resumes on July 29/30 with the Clark International Speedway Kart Track hosting Rounds 3 and 4 of an 8-round championship.

Axel Nocom is supported by Mercedes Young Driver Academy Philippines, Motul Infiniteserv International, Alpinestars, Alaska Milk Corporation, Recaro Philippines, DENSO, and SKRATCH LABS Energy Bar.

For more info and the latest updates, follow the Axel Motorsports page on Facebook.

[Photos by Jerald Valdez]

Lady karter Seira Kojima shocks Rotax Max Ph with win in Palawan

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Lady karter Seira Kojima shocks Rotax Max Ph with win in Palawan

There’s a fresh face in the local motorsports community who turned quite a number of heads at the recent Rotax Max Challenge Philippines’ season opener. Her name is Seira Kojima, who despite being a relative newcomer in karting, managed to pull off an impressive Junior Class win at the Palawan International Circuit (PIC).

Daughter to a Japanese father and Filipino mother, this lady driver barely has a year’s worth of experience under the belt after taking up the sport back in June of 2022. She’s only had a few competitive outings so far in her home country of Japan, Singapore, and now her mother’s birthplace the Philippines. Seira made her local debut at the Rok GP Cup curtain raiser at the Carmona Race Track (CRT) last March and finished in a respectable 4th despite having limited track time leading up to the event. She then returned at the end of April for a chance to race at the 1.300 km track in Puerto Princesa, which only comes up in the racing calendar once a year.

Seira Kojima (right) with fellow lady karter Karis Alexandrea ‘Alex’ Santos (left)

Seira arrived at the circuit on Wednesday in order to have enough practice before the double-header race weekend. This allowed her to build up speed and confidence at a comfortable pace. Although nothing really extraordinary happened over the course of several days, what’s interesting was her choice to switch teams at the very last minute.

The 12-year-old only had Friday to settle in with Mercedes Young Driver Development Philippines and familiarize herself with how things were run. Similarly, the team had to make the most out of the day to fix her kart and get to know their new driver. WSK international tuner Richard Peek listened to her inputs and adjusted the setup as best as he could in spite of the language barrier as English was not Seira’s first language. Team coach Oliver Aquino, who new a bit of Nihongo, then filled in the gaps and provided some driving pointers along the way.

Whatever they did seemed to have worked after Seira set the 3rd fastest time during Time Trials on Saturday and was only 0.331 secs off from the fastest driver on track. She then made steady progress in Qualifying, finishing 4th in both sessions and clocking in the fastest lap in Heat 2. But her talent truly shined during the all-important Finals.

Starting from P5, she got caught behind the mid-pack battle as the race leader sped away and opened up a gap. Eventually, the lady karter found a way past what essentially was a moving chicane and proceeded to pick off the other drivers one by one. Seira drove brilliantly to cut down a 10 secs advantage to just 0.531 secs when the chequered flag dropped, earning her a spot on the podium with 2nd while setting the fastest lap of the race.

The following round, however, didn’t begin as well as they had hoped. Seira was caught out by the wet conditions and went off track, dropping her down to 5th in the Time Trial. But did this did little to dampen her sprits and finished 2nd in both Qualifying Heats again setting the fastest laps. Seira would then save her best performance of the weekend for the Finals on Sunday.

She momentarily dropped to P3 at the start and immediately chased after front-runners Arion Crosby and Ryan Sy. There was nothing much the boys could do to stop Seira from getting past, overtaking Arion first followed by Ryan. It was then all smooth sailing to the finish line, securing Seira Kojima her first race victory in Rotax Max Challenge Philippines and her fourth fastest lap of the race for the weekend.

It’s just unfortunate that, because Seira holds a Japanese racing license, she isn’t eligible to score points towards the overall championship. But if she did, the lady karter would currently be 2nd on the points table.

[Photos by Bong Boado]

Rotax Max victories in Palawan is Bern Corpino’s 9th straight karting win

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Rotax Max victories in Palawan is Bern Corpino’s 9th straight karting win

We’ve recently been made aware that, after scoring back-to-back victories at the Palawan International Circuit over the weekend, Bern Corpino has now secured 9 consecutive race wins since 2022 on home soil. His winning streak spans 2 separate championships, over 2 class divisions, done at 2 different circuits, and all accomplished over an 8 month period.

Since the venue only comes up in the calendar once a year, he and his team VS Racing Motorsports made sure to be arrive at the track a week early. This gave them ample time for testing before the Rotax Max Challenge Philippines’ double-header opening race weekend. And by doing extra homework, Bern was able to immediately top the time sheets during Saturday’s Warm Up session and clear the entire 18-kart grid by half a second per lap.

It was then a repeat performance every time Bern went out on track. Though still a rookie year in the Senior Category, he had no problems outrunning more experienced karters and consistently finished 1st in Time Trial, Qualifying Heat 1, and Qualifying Heat 2. The Finals was simply a show of dominance with Bern enjoying a lights-to-flag victory to complete a perfect Round 1.

Round 2 on Sunday, however, wasn’t as straightforward as they had hoped for due to the weather. This was Bern’s first time around the 1.300 km circuit in the wet and was caught out during Warm Up. A spin sent him crashing into the foam barriers and ended up mid-table in the results. Luckily, he and his #19 OTK kart escaped unscathed. But it was the same story all over again in the Time Trial and both Qualifying Heats with Bern finishing in front. He later concluded the dream race weekend in Palawan by winning the Finals with a 3.821 secs lead.

Bern’s streak of race victories could be traced all the way back to September of 2022. He won the Rok GP Cup triple-header at the Carmona Race Track en route to claiming the Junior Class title. The 15-year-old did it again a month later at the Rotax Max season finale, winning back-to-back rounds to become class champion. Now graduating to the Senior Category, he kicked off the 2023 season of Rok GP with a pair of wins back in March before heading to Palawan.

This remarkable karter will be eyeing for a 10th or even 11th consecutive victory when the Rotax Max Challenge Philippines resumes on July 29/30 at the Clark International Speedway Kart Track.

Bern Corpino: “It’s a great start to my Senior Category campaign in karts with 4 consecutive wins in 2023. I would like to thank our Lord God for everything that He has given me, to my biggest supporters my parents, to my coach VJ Suba, to my mechanic Jomar Suba, and to the whole VS Suba family. I will keep my head down, always be humble, and always be hungry for more!”

VJ Suba, Driver Coach: “We were lucky that Bern found good pace around the Palawan International Circuit quite quickly. He improved day-by-day at every practice session. We at VS Racing mainly help our drivers develop their skill and focus, and we’re proud of Bern for giving all his best. Congratulations on another win and looking forward to the next race!”

Bern Corpino is sponsored by Extra Joss.

For more info and the latest updates, follow Bern Corpino Racing on Facebook.

[Photos by Bong Boado]

RSA Motors BMW inks deal with Eduardo Coseteng for ADAC GT Masters 2023

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RSA Motors BMW inks deal with Eduardo Coseteng for ADAC GT Masters 2023

RSA Motors, the official distributor of BMW in the Philippines, is getting itself involved in international motorsports this 2023. The company has recently inked a partnership with Eduardo Coseteng to support the Filipino driver on his ADAC GT Masters campaign.

The 19-year-old began his motorsport career at a young age through karting. His talent and passion took him to race wins and championship titles be it local or abroad, notably for his victory at the ’19 Macau Karting GP and ’17 IAME Series Asia vice championship. Eduardo then switched to single seaters in 2021, entering the British F4 Championship in ’21 with Argenti Motorsport before jumping to Hitech GP in ’22 where he picked a win last October.

Driving for Schubert Motorsport, he is set to join the ADAC GT Masters’ pre-season test Hockenheimring in Germany ahead of the season opener in June, held at the same venue. Eduardo will be driving a BMW M4 GT3 in all 6 events of 2023 shared with last year’s Pirelli Junior class champion Ben Green.

“The timing of Eduardo Coseteng’s collaboration with RSA Motors couldn’t have been more perfect, as more Filipinos are developing a strong interest in motorsports. BMW is delighted to foster the passion for this thrilling sport and help grow its fan base,” says RSA Motors General Manager Simeon Policarpio.

The GT3 variant is rooted in the most recent iteration of BMW M4, illustrating how BMW M GmbH synchronizes road car and race car advancements. The GT3 race car inherits recognizable features and design from the M4 production model, which are optimized to enhance performance and efficiency. The M4 GT3’s combination of reliability, cost efficiency, and ease of maintenance, along with its exceptional attributes, can aid Coseteng in winning races during the upcoming season.

Daryl DeLeon 2nd overall in BEC Brands Hatch after late 911 GT3 car swap

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Daryl DeLeon 2nd overall in BEC Brands Hatch after late 911 GT3 car swap

Heading to the second event of the British Endurance Championship (BEC) at Brands Hatch, Daryl DeLeon Taylor was supposed to be driving the #34 Audi S3 BTCC touring car of Team HARD Racing. But that plan quickly changed on Friday night. He was given an opportunity of a lifetime to fill in an empty seat in the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car. And his way of showing his gratitude is by putting the #28 entry (and its owner Brad Thurston) on the overall podium with a class win in tow.

Team HARD Racing was left scratching their heads late Friday evening as the supposed co-driver of their GT3 car couldn’t make it to the track. That’s when the team thought that it would be a good idea to give Daryl a go.

“Turning up to race day having not ever driven a GT car before, I didn’t know what to expect. I was so exited to have my first outing in a GT car and was even more exited about it being a Porsche GT3,” he shared.

The Filipino-British driver turned his first laps in the black-and-green liveried Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car during Free Practice on Saturday morning. Daryl’s lack of experience in sports cars, however, didn’t really show in the time sheets. As a matter of fact, he ended the 20-minute session 4th overall and 1st amongst the Class C entries around the 1.944 km Brands Hatch Indy course.

Brad Thurston then took over for Qualifying and come Sunday, would start the 2 hour race from the 4th row of the grid. A clean getaway allowed him to gain several places and rub elbows with the heavyweights at the front. He managed to hold position and maintain P3 in Class C during his 30-minute stint before handing the car over to Daryl.

With zero racing experience in a Porsche 911 GT3, the 17-year-old made the most out of his 60-minute stint to familiarize himself with the new machinery. It was also a real test of skill and endurance as he fought for position and even managed take the race lead.

Brad had the privilege to drive the closing stages of the race onto a spot on the podium. But with only 15 minutes to go, the #28 car suffered a rear suspension failure that affected its handling and lost them time. Luckily, it was not terminal and they had a big enough gap to hold on to 2nd place overall when the chequered flag dropped and take 1st in C Class.

The British Endurance Championship (BEC) resumes on the 27th of May for the 3 Hours of Oulton Park. It will be confirmed which entry Daryl will be driving with Team HARD Racing at later date.

Daryl DeLeon Taylor: “Overall, I’m incredibly proud of my performance at the British Endurance Championship. It was an unforgettable experience, and one that I’ll cherish for years to come. Driving a Porsche 911 GT3 around Brands Hatch is something that few people get to do and I would just like to thank everyone who made it possible. Bradley, Dave, Matt, and all involved at Team HARD Racing.”

Brad Thurston: “Absolutely over the moon with the result and I think it was fully deserved. Racing with Daryl was brilliant. He picked up the car very quickly considering he only drove it Saturday morning in Free Practice. I’d like to say thank you to Matt, our race engineer, who got the strategy perfect. Our #1 mechanic Alex who worked non-stop all weekend and the guys at Team HARD Racing for the faultless pit stops. It’s nice to reward the guys at Grace Engine Developments, Berkshire Bodyshop, and the team with a class win and an overall podium.”

Daryl DeLeon Taylor is supported by Train Maintenance Services (TMS).

For news and updates, Like the Daryl DeLeon Racing page on Facebook, follow @daryldeleon on Instagram, or visit daryltaylorracing.com.

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