Formula V1 drivers to banner Philippine flag at Suzuka Clubman Race

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Formula V1 drivers to banner Philippine flag at Suzuka Clubman Race

Some of our best local Formula V1 drivers are at the Suzuka Circuit this weekend to see how they stack up against some of the best Japanese Vita-01 drivers at the 2023 Suzuka Clubman Race’s final leg. This consists of an all-start lineup with Milo Rivera, Bryan Co, Joaquin ‘Wakkeen’ Garrido, and Rainy Medina.

Milo Rivera, who was the 2022 Formula V1 PRO Class champion, shares his thoughts ahead of the event. “It’s always an immense honor and privilege to represent your country, and we will definitely promise to give our all. Although we will be racing to the checkered flag individually, our job is to also help and uplift each other throughout the way.”

Meanwhile, this will be Bryan Co’s first international event which was his prize for securing the 2022 AM Class title. Likewise, Joaquin ‘Wakkeen’ Garrido won the AM Class title a year prior to Bryan and is expected to do well in Japan. Wakkeen was forced to miss the 2023 season finale and concede the PRO Class championship to rival Iñigo Anton, but with good reason. He attended the penultimate round of the Formula 4 South East Asia that same weekend and secured a Top 10 finish at the Sepang International Circuit. Completing the Philippine lineup is newly-crowned Formula V1 AM Class champion Rainy Medina of AutoholicRaceform.

With an invite from West Racing Cars, all 4 drivers will drive the latest Vita-01 race cars (renamed as Formula V1 locally), complete with comprehensive race services provided by the Japanese manufacturer’s race team.

Official Practice begins on December 1 (Friday), with Qualifying on December 2 (Saturday) and the main Race on December 3 (Sunday).

The 2023 Formula V1 Challenge is supported by GT Radial, Motul Philippines, OMP, FASA, TOPTUL, and West Racing Cars; with official media partners: The Philippine Daily Inquirer, AutoDeal, C! Magazine, AutoCar Philippines, Skramble Media, Time Attack Manila, and Wheels Philippines.

D1GP Southeast Asia drifts into action this weekend at R33 Drift Track

Time Attack Manila
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D1GP Southeast Asia drifts into action this weekend at R33 Drift Track

The newly-established D1GP Southeast Asia Series, which promises to be the most anticipated drifting competition in the Philippines, is all set or its inaugural event this weekend. Showcasing the best of drifting talent, both local and abroad, prepare for 2 days of speed, precision, and excitement at the R33 Drift Track in Pampanga.

The R33 Drift Track will become the largest stage for the drifting community to showcase their talent. A massive 30-car entry list will face off on December 2/3, which includes international pro drifters such as Denis ‘Mackie’ Tang from Macau, Pat Luangsombon from Thailand with fellow countrymen Pay Toyingcharden and Pop Keawchin, Ziko Harnadi from Indonesia, and lady drifter Jinsun Yang from South Korea. But don’t discount our local talent pool who are expected to showcase their world-class skill against the best of Southeast Asia.

Adding to the adrenaline-pumping experience, the even also features an amazing lineup of Djs! Catch live performances of Greyhoundz, Ron Henley, Toro, Dj Reiz, and Uncle B while watching the drift action take place. Ton of prizes will also be up for grabs for all event attendees.

D1GP Southeast Asia is not just a competition. It’s a celebration of automotive culture and the spirit of competition. The 2-day event is open to the public with admission fee of P400 per day.

Don’t miss this rare chance to watch local and international talent face off at the R33 Drift Track in Pampanga. Prepare for an event filled with roaring engines, screeching tires, and the exhilaration of world-class drifting.

Organized by R33 Drift Track, the D1GP Southeast Asia Series is organized by R33 Drift Track, powered by Sailun Motorsport, Clean Fuel, Motul, and Cromax. Sponsors include Solarex, Sen. JV Ejercito, Fix Pro, John Deerie, Haltech, Import Hookup, Emtrac, RRS, Decal Republic, Origin Labo, Tomato Garage, Go Traktora, Radium, Amsoil, Second Skin, Ramen Nagi, Macbeth, R102, RJ’s Social, Alpinestars, Alibaba, Wheeltek, Webtek, F&D, and AAP.

For more info and updates, Follow the D1GP Philippines page on Facebook.

Anton sweeps 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Ph finale to win back-to-back titles

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Anton sweeps 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Ph finale to win back-to-back titles

The season finale of the 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines provided plenty of on-track action up and down the grid. Held last November 24/25 at the Clark International Speedway (CIS), the weekend saw a debutant gave series regulars a run for their money, a rookie that stole the runner up spot, and a reigning champion win back-to-back titles.

The race-engineered SEAOIL Extreme-97 fuel with STP additives once again provided unmatched performance for all the Radical SR1s over the race weekend. This was especially crucial as the 2023 championship was on the line. What was a surprise though was that title contender Joaquin ‘Wakkeen’ Garrido missed the finale and spared his closest rival Iñigo Anton from a difficult title fight to the end. But in his absence, it allowed Miguel Quiñones and newcomer Matthew Edmunds to challenge ‘s dominance and get a shot at a podium spot.

Pushing his #33 SR1 to its absolute limits, Iñigo immediately set the best time during Qualifying with a 1:56.177 lap and claim pole position. Miguel couldn’t quite match his pace, but his best time was still fast enough to earn the multiple-time karting champion a front row start.

With Wakkeen out for the last round, Miguel capitalized on the opportunity to gain points and move his way up the standings. The DRQ Motorsports driver gave chase to Iñigo during Race 1 on Saturday in an attempt to take the lead. But despite his best efforts, Iñigo didn’t crack under pressure and won with a 3.355 secs lead with Miguel settling for 2nd place. Making an impressive debut with team R-Gas, Matthew landed a podium finish on his very first race in 3rd place.

Race 2 later that day was another chance for Miguel to get the jump on Iñigo. Much to his dismay, Iñigo never gave him an inch and pulled away with an even bigger gap to win by a triumphant 8.234 secs lead. Miguel followed behind in 2nd with Matthew once again in 3rd to complete the podium.

Every driver on the grid wanted to close the season on a high note and fought for every gap possible on the final day of racing. Race 3 would see Matthew edge out Miguel and take the chequered flag valiantly in 2nd place. The gentleman driver also set his best lap all weekend during the 12-lap race, clearly showing how much he’s pushing. Iñigo enjoyed another dominant lights-to-flag victory, while Miguel this time finishing 3rd.

Even if Iñigo already secured more than enough points to claim the title, that didn’t stop him from putting the pedal to the metal in Race 4. He drove consistent, quick laps towards his 10th consecutive win this season to earn the title as 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines Champion in style. Miguel also never gave up until the chequered flag dropped and finished 8.487 secs behind in 2nd, earning enough points to end his debut year with Radical as Vice Champion.

“It’s good to be the back-to-back champion. Thank you to Radical Cars Philippines for a great year and a well-organized series,” commented newly-crowned 2023 champion Iñigo Anton. “I’d also like to thank Team MRD X Motul for being a top tier team with very skilled mechanics and race engineers. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without such a great team behind me. It was quite a chaotic weekend because I also had to jump in to a Formula V1 in between the races but I think it was good preparation for me for my upcoming F4 race.”

Edward Cruz, Head of B2C Segment Marketing for SEAOIL Philippines, Inc. shares his thoughts on another successful season, “On behalf of the whole SEAOIL organization, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to our partners Radical Cars Philippines and all the drivers and teams on the successful culmination of this thrilling 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines racing season. It has been a privilege to support the fastest racing series in the country, which showcased remarkable talent and passion for motorsport. We’re honored to have fueled these races and we look forward to the next season. We also wish the best to some of our outstanding racers who will also venture out onto the global stage.”

The 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines is powered by race-engineered SEAOIL Extreme-97 fuel with STP additives, sponsored by Kumu, Kooler, and Porsche Design Manila.

2023 Formula V1 Challenge braces for epic season finale this weekend

Time Attack Manila
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2023 Formula V1 Challenge braces for epic season finale this weekend

Expect the on-track action to heat up as the Formula V1 Challenge preps for its final round of 2023 this November 24/25 at the Clark International Speedway (CIS). With the title fights in both the PRO and AM Classes still wide open, anything can happen over the 3 races this weekend.

After a dominant performance at Round 2, Iñigo Anton of Obengers Racing currently holds onto a commanding 25 point lead in the PRO division over closest rival Joaquin ‘Wakkeen’ Garrido of Edgesport Racing. This makes it an intense 2-horse race at the season finale. But don’t discount the likes of Kazuki Takemura of West Racing and John Dizon from joining in the fray. Although both no longer have a shot at the title, surely they would still want to finish the year strong and take home a race win… or 2… or even 3.

The AM Class, on the other hand, will see Rainy Medina of Autoholic Garage square off with Oliver Aquino of Tech 7 Garage for the championship. Only 2 points separate the pair setting the stage for an epic duel.

Other drivers on the AM grid include Paolo Ayo of Edgesport, Dondi San Jose of Moh’s Racing, and Masanori Aya of West Racing Team who returns to the series for the first time in 2023. But be on the lookout for Juancho Brobio of Obengers Racing. Though still a rookie, he was able to deliver solid results during the previous round and secured victories on his debut, impressively keeping pace with the PRO Class drivers.

Qualifying and Race 1 takes place on Friday (November 24) followed by Races 2 and 3 on Saturday.

The 2023 Formula V1 Challenge Series is supported by GT Radial, Motul Philippines, OMP, FASA, TOPTUL, and West Racing Cars; with official media partners: The Philippine Daily Inquirer, AutoDeal, C! Magazine, AutoCar Philippines, Skramble Media, Time Attack Manila, and Wheels Philippines.

[Photo by Randolph De Leon]

2023 title to be decided at SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines finale at CIS

Time Attack Manila
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2023 title to be decided at SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines finale at CIS

Mathematically, there’s still 3 drivers in the championship running for the 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines. Iñigo Anton, Joaquin ‘Wakkeen’ Garrido, and Miguel Quiñones all have a shot at claiming the title this weekend at the 4th and final round of the year at the Clark International Speedway (CIS).

Equipped with the race-engineered SEAOIL Extreme-97 octane fuel, the grid of Radical SR1s is expected to provide plenty of wheel-to-wheel action as they scramble for points.

All eyes are on reigning champion Iñigo as he aims to defend his throne this 2023. After sweeping 6 consecutive race wins, he currently leads the standings with 194 points ahead of his closest rival Wakkeen of Parts Pro Racing. But with only a 43 point deficit to Iñigo, Wakkeen will be on full attack mode as he aims to keep his title hopes afloat. Also, don’t discount Miguel of DRQ Motorsports who still has a shot at claiming the top spot. The multiple-time karting champion is enjoying his rookie season in the SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines and is improving at every round. Given his progress so far, expect to see him mix it up in the title fight.

Meanwhile, newcomer Matthew Edmonds will be making his series debut this weekend and should provide plenty of action up and down the grid.

Adding to the excitement, there will be 4 sprint races for the season finale instead of the usual 3. 2 races are scheduled on each day of running with Qualifying on Friday followed by Race 1 and Race 2 in the afternoon, then Races 3 and 4 takes place on Saturday where the 2023 championship will be decided.

Leading up to the grand finale, Edward Cruz, Head of B2C Segment Marketing for SEAOIL Philippines, Inc., shared his sentiments towards a successful second season. “As the 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines season’s final race approaches, we’re revving up for an electrifying finish! It’s been an incredible journey of adrenaline, passion, and unforgettable moments. Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled showdown at the last race—let’s make it one to remember,” he expressed as he gives his best wishes to all the drivers and individuals who made the year possible.

The 2023 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines is powered by race-engineered SEAOIL Extreme-97 fuel with STP additives, sponsored by Kumu, Kooler, and Porsche Design Manila.

Vincent Floirendo completes memorable 70th Macau Grand Prix in 10th

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Vincent Floirendo completes memorable 70th Macau Grand Prix in 10th

Get to the finish, with the Audi R8 LMS intact, in the Top 10. That was Vincent Floirendo’s mission when he entered the famed Macau Grand Prix last November 11/12. And we’re happy to confirm that it was mission accomplished for the lone Filipino driver on the GT3 grid.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for GT3 AM drivers to compete around the Guia Street Circuit and Vincent simply couldn’t pass up on the opportunity. With the help of B-Quik Absolute Racing, he was able to take his #55 ENSport Audi R8 LMS Evo II to the 70th anniversary of the one of the most historic street races in the world. Although the event comes with A LOT prestige, racing around the 6.273 km circuit around Macau does come with its own set of challenges.

Apart from the complex layout, tight turns, and the armco barriers that line the track, drivers were only given a single 30 mins Free Practice session to master a lap around Macau. That’s too short especially for a first timer like Vincent who described his exploratory laps as “scary” and “intimidating.” It was good that he managed to keep his #55 Audi R8 LMS off the walls, but wound up close to the end of the timing sheets.

“The Macau Guia Street is a lot narrower than Bangsaen in Thailand. Marina Bay in Singapore is also much wider in comparison,” he emphasized on difficult it really is to drive here.

“Turn 1 is a fast 5th gear left hander that leads into Mandarin bend which can be taken flat out in 6th and reach a top speed of around 260 km/h. It’s a blind corner and to be honest, I was lifting at times as I’ve seen a lot of big crashes around that turn,” Vincent recalled. “Then you brake hard into a tight right hander Lisboa. It’s actually a tricky corner where some drivers overshoot including me. I was just lucky that I was able to catch the car when it happened to me during Qualifying and incurred only minor scratches on the Audi R8.”

The session was riddled with several stoppages due to cars that were stranded on track. But despite the lack of run time, Vincent was able to shave over 8 secs from his fastest lap. Still, it was nowhere close to the front runners who were comprised of Silver-rated drivers accustomed to Macau.

“Sectors 2 and 3 gets very tight up there. All corners are blind where you have to commit at every turn to get good lap times. You won’t see if someone spins or crashes on the other side, so you need to pay attention to the marshals and flags on every corner,” he added on the risks of racing at this street circuit.

Starting the 8-lap Race close to the back, however, does present some benefits at Macau. Vincent took a cautious approach at the start and allowed the roaring grid of GT3 machinery fight for position. As expected, several drivers got stranded at Lisboa on very first lap and allowed Vincent to move up to P11. After spending several laps behind the Safety Car, the race was eventually green lit once again and became a 4 lap sprint to the finish. Vincent maintained composure and stayed out of trouble until the chequered flag dropped, improving another place higher as more cars retired in the wall, to finished in a hard-earned 10th place.

Coming from a very memorable 70th Macau Grand Prix, Vincent now has his eyes set on the Thailand Super Series’ (TSS) season finale next month. He and Markus Winkelhock currently leads the Supercar GT3 standings and will aim to take the title at the Chang International Circuit.

Vincent Floirendo: “The team’s target was to finish the race, with the Audi R8 intact, and in the Top 10. Mission accomplished I’d say. I would love to race at the Macau Guia Street Circuit again if given the chance. This is one of the best and most famous road courses in the world. A good number of Formula 1 drivers from as far back as the ’80s and ’90s have raced here and of course our very own Dodjie Laurel in the ’60s. It’s a proud moment to be the first Filipino to race here in a GT3-spec car.”

[Photos by Matt Romualdez]

Bern Corpino turns around points deficit to win Rotax Max Ph Senior Championship

Koby Del Rosario
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Bern Corpino turns around points deficit to win Rotax Max Ph Senior Championship

Heading into the double header season finale trailing behind in points, Bern Corpino overcame the all the odds to bag the 2023 Rotax Max Challenge Philippines’ Senior Championship last November 4/5 at the Carmona Race Track (CRT). Even more impressive is that he did it on his rookie year in Seniors.

Bern started his title charge by notching the best time during Saturday morning’s Time Trial with a 59.182 secs lap. But he later lost some of his footing during Qualifying Heat 1 where he dropped outside a podium spot after a shaky start and ended up in 4th upon crossing the chequered flag. Reaching deep into his bag of tricks, Bern made a strong recovery drive in Heat 2 to win by a 4.605 secs margin and was able to start the Finals alongside fellow title contender Miguel Quiñones.

With the championship in the air, the 15-year-old immediately made his move on Miguel and took the lead. He stayed there throughout the 15-lap race and defended against Japanese karter Kaoru Yoshida to secure 1st place in Round 5 and close the points gap to Miguel.

Bern had to pull all the stops as the championship would ultimately be decided on Sunday. After ending up in P2 during Round 6’s Time Trial in the morning, the rookie was met with another challenge once again as he would up 3rd place in Heat 1 after a slow start. Unwilling to give up, he got his head down in Heat 2 and fought for 1st place against a hard charging Yoshida.

Their duel would resume in the Finals with Bern tailgating the Japanese karter in attempt to find a way past. Although he had to settle for 2nd across the chequered flag, what’s important is that he finished ahead of Miguel and earned more than enough points to claim the title and be crowned the 2023 Rotax Max Challenge Philippines Senior Class champion.

Bern never lost faith in himself and VS Racing Motorsports despite facing stiff competition. “I knew that I had the pace and capability to challenge for 1st place. I just kept my head down the whole weekend and did not think much about anything else other than my goal—getting that championship,” he expressed.

After a season full of amazing battles, Bern has a lot of takeaways as he looks to further improve on his driving. He also sends his appreciation to everyone who supported him this season, to his parents, team VS Racing Motorsports, coaches VJ and RR Suba, mechanic Jomar Suba, teammates, sponsors, and to God.

Bern now heads into the off-season to prepare for 2024 with plans to be announced at a later date.

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

[Photos by Bong Boado]

Mercedes YDDP coach Kaoru Yoshida give local Senior karters a run for their money

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Mercedes YDDP coach Kaoru Yoshida give local Senior karters a run for their money

Mercedes Young Driver Development Philippines (YDDP) brought with them a surprise wildcard entry for the season finale of the 2023 Rotax Max Challenge. Kaoru Yoshida was supposedly at the Carmona Race Track (CRT) only for coaching duties, but at the last minute the team decided to put him on the grid. With an old chassis and a borrowed engine, the Japanese driver showed that he can be competitive against the best local Senior Class karters and even won the Finals on Sunday.

At 19 years of age, Kaoru is an accomplished karter in his native land and actively competes in OK Senior. He was flown in to country by Mercedes YDDP last November 4/5 to watch over fellow Japanese karter Seira Kojima who was racing in the double header weekend.

With guidance from Kaoru, the lady driver was consistently in the Top 3 of every session and scored a 2nd place finish on Saturday. But as a true racer, Kaoru couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get behind the wheel.

Mercedes YDDP was able to quickly source a 3-year-old Kosmic Kart chassis and a borrowed Rotax engine for Kaoru. A few practice sessions around the 1.380 km circuit was all that he needed to get up to speed and managed to set the 3rd fastest lap during Time Trials on Saturday.

It was just unfortunate that he was later disqualified after his kart was found to be 1kg underweight caused by a rulebook misunderstanding as English was not Kaoru’s first language. But even that couldn’t slow him down. Kaoru muscled his way from P20 and dead last during the Qualifying Heat to make it up to 3rd place at the finish. Now starting from the 4th row in the Finals, the Japanese quickly found himself battling with the top 2 Senior Class drivers in the country. He later finished the 15-lap race in 2nd place ahead of 4x champion Miguel Quiñones and only 1.588 secs behind championship leader Bern Corpino.

Mercedes Young Driver Development Philippines (YDDP) strives to elevate the level of karting competition in the country. Its program not only focuses on honing local talent, but they also bring in drivers from overseas to benchmark where we rank against the global stage. Aside from Kaoru, Mercedes YDDP has also brought in 2 other drivers from Japan this season. 8-year-old Leon Hanabuchi entered 3 events in MiniRok earlier this year, while 13-year-old Koki Kunioka contested in 4 events under the Junior category.

Kaoru took things up a notch on Sunday. He would secure a 1st and 2nd place finish in the Qualifying Heats to put him on pole position for the Finals. The Finals then became a rematch between him and Bern which lasted all the way until the chequered flag dropped. The Mercedes YDDP wildcard gave the local ace a run for his money and and went on to win by a slim 0.340 secs margin, concluding his one off outing in the Philippines on the top step of the podium.

[Photos by Bong Boado]

Yuan Bugayong clinches Cadet Rookie Karter of the Year title in Carmona

Koby Del Rosario
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Yuan Bugayong clinches Cadet Rookie Karter of the Year title in Carmona

After a season long of superb performances, Yuan Bugayong has now won the Formula Cadet Novice class in 2023. He accumulated so many points that mathematically, the 11-year-old could have actually missed the season finale at the Carmona Race Track (CRT) last November 4/5 and still take home the championship.

Fresh off competing in the T4 Nations Cup in Spain, Yuan and DRIFT Motor Racing Team was in high spirits heading to the last event of 2023. He kicked off the proceedings on Saturday by setting the fastest lap during Time Trials and was even quicker than the Expert class drivers.

This momentum would carry onto the next morning as Yuan went toe-to-toe with his teammate Franco Patawaran during Heat 1 of Qualifying. The pair were inseparable throughout the 6-lap race and crossed the finish line just 0.035 secs apart with Patawaran taking the win.

Yuan’s closest-rival Matthew Garvilles joined the fray in Heat 2, making it a 3-way fight all the way to the end. Matthew managed to open up a small gap to secure 1st with Yuan in 2nd and Franco in 3rd. With the release of the Consolidated Heat standings, Yuan found himself starting from 2nd on the grid for the all-important Finals.

Capping off the season on a high, Yuan was pushed to his limits in the Finals as the top 4 drivers all consistently lapped within the 1 min 8 secs range. All this opponents stepped up and gave a tough fight for one last time this season. Yuan had to strategically find openings to overtake, eventually forcing his way to 2nd in a photo finish against Marcus Young and teammate Franco with only 0.070 separating the 3 karters.

Yuan’s 2nd place finish at the season finale was more than enough for him to claim the Formula Cadet Novice title, earning him the 2023 Rookie Karter of the Year crown. It was truly a significant achievement for such a young racer who only had 8 month’s of racing experience prior and win 5 out of the 8 rounds in the 2023 calendar.

With his quick development, Yuan is looking to jump full time to MiniRok next year and mount a serious attack on the 2024 championship title.

Opened in 2022, DRIFT MOTOR Speedway in Taytay, Rizal provided Yuan a proper venue to hone and develop his talent in karting. He would join (and win) the monthly races hosted by his family’s indoor electric kart venue before making the big jump to Cadets. With the skills he picked up at DRIFT MOTOR Speedway, it allowed Yuan to excel in his very first year in competitive racing.

DRIFT MOTOR Speedway is now planning to open additional branches at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in early 2024 and a new location down south later that year.

Yuan Bugayong is supported by AmsOil Philippines, Motolite Quick Delivery, SEC Motosupply, DRIFT XAUST, K&N Filters Philippines, RaceChip Philippines, Tiger Garage, C Diamond Aluminum & Supply, and Mercedes Young Driver Development Philippines.

Ryan Sy races through illness to win the Rotax Max Ph Jr Championship

Koby Del Rosario
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Ryan Sy races through illness to win the Rotax Max Ph Jr Championship

Despite still recovering from a fever, Ryan Sy pushed through to win the Junior title in 2023 Rotax Max Challenge Philippines by sweeping the season finale at the Carmona Race Track (CRT). He would wrap up the year with 3 wins, 2 podiums, and 405 points to secure the crown by a commanding 88.5 points.

To help improve his chances at the double header weekend, Formula E Racing switched to a brand new chassis for the final event of the year. They then dressed it up with a new bumper and body, which they purchased during their recent trip to Lonato in Italy. Equipped further with his best race engine on hand, Ryan and his #79 kart was readier than ever.

The weekend festivities officially began on Saturday morning with Ryan setting the fastest lap during the Time Trials for Round 5 with a 59.333 secs lap. Satisfied with his pace, the 14-year-old then maintained this momentum into the Qualifying Heats. There he breezed through the competition and won both sessions by over a second, earning him pole position in the Finals. It then became an 11-lap show of force with Ryan completing a lights-to-flag victory and securing full points for Round 5.

Going into Round 6 on Sunday, Ryan extended his lead even further with another captivating showing during the Time Trials. He then jumped straight into Heat 1 where the Formula E Racing driver opened up a 6.027 secs lead by the time the chequered flag dropped. The young talent was again at the front in Heat 2, easily winning against a grid of 10 competitive karters.

Unchallenged all weekend, Ryan still pushed up until the last corner, of the last lap, of the last race of the season even if he was already 7 secs ahead of the competition. He had to do this for his personal accomplishment, to disprove all his doubters that Ryan was not good enough, to show them that he can win races and become champion. In the end, he delivered a masterclass performance all the way to the Finals, sweeping all races of the weekend with the Rotax Max Ph Junior Championship in tow.

Placing 1st in every session all weekend, Ryan credits this to the teachings of team Elson Carpio. “I listened to his advice while doing data, I adjusted to the track conditions, and I had a good understanding of what my setup is supposed to feel like when I’m driving fast, going around corners and the like,” he shared.

With this, Ryan was able to deal with both his illness and pressure from the competition to focus on winning – which he says was his biggest hurdle

It was a season full of ups and downs, but all these new challenges contributed to Ryan’s growth and maturity as a driver. He learned how to overcome adversities and still deliver results on race day.

Ryan’s plans for the off-season and 2024 will be announced at a later date.

Ryan Sy is supported by Formula E Racing Management in collaboration with PCRC. For more info and updates, Like the Ryan Sy Racing page on Facebook and follow @ryan_sy_racing on Instagram.

[Photos by Matt Romualdez]

Vincent Floirendo takes on the 70th Macau Grand Prix in his Audi R8 LMS GT3

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Vincent Floirendo takes on the 70th Macau Grand Prix in his Audi R8 LMS GT3

Nothing quite compares to the thrill of racing around a street circuit. The tight curves, blind corners, and the constant threat of touching an armco barrier. Vincent Floirendo is one the few brave drivers who will never pass up an opportunity to race on tracks such as Bangsaen and Marina Bay. And when a chance to enter the 70th edition of the Macau Grand Prix opened up, it was an instant ‘YES’ from the Filipino driver.

This year sees a rare opportunity for GT3 AM drivers to compete around the Guia Circuit that snakes through 6.273 km around the Macau. A total of 17 entries has been confirmed so far for the Greater Bay Area GT Cup, which are mainly comprised of competitive AM drivers who all will be racing here for the first time.

Vincent will again run his #55 ENsport by Absolute Racing Audi R8 LMS Evo II that proudly features a massive Philippine flag on its roof. This will be his third street race of 2023 and judging by his performance in Thailand and Singapore, he should have no problems fighting his way to the front.

He also happens to be leading the Supercar GT3 standings in the 2023 Thailand Super Series’ (TSS) with one event to go. This should be a good practice for Vincent before the season finale at the Chang International Circuit in December.

In celebration of its 70th year running, the Macau Grand Prix will be held over 2 weekends in 2023. The Greater Bay Area GT Cup will take place from November 11 to 12 with a 30-minute Qualifying session on Saturday followed by an 8-lap Race on Sunday.

Vincent Floirendo: “I’m looking forward to the 70th year running of the Macau Grand Prix. It’s a great opportunity that they’ve allowed GT3 AM Class drivers to run here for the first time. For sure it will be a challenge going around the Guia Street Circuit. I’d like to think that it will be similar to Bangsaen, with a very tight second and third sectors, plus a lot of blind corners. We will see how things go this weekend.”

Pinnacle Motorsport is back in the region to race F4 South East Asia at Macau

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Pinnacle Motorsport is back in the region to race F4 South East Asia at Macau

Pinnacle Motorsport has been an established figure in South East Asia with half a decade’s worth of experience racing in events such as Formula Masters, F3 Asian Championship, and Asian Le Mans Series. But because of the pandemic, they were were forced to shift to racing in Europe in the Middle East in the last few years. But at least, with Formula 4 South East Asia’s new promoter Top Speed, the team is in high spirits to be back racing in the region starting at the historic 70th Macau Grand Prix.

In partnership with B-Max Racing, the Motorsport Ireland-licensed team has confirmed a 4-car entry in the 2023 Formula 4 South East Asia Championship Certified by FIA. Their driver lineup at Macau consists of Kai Daryanani, Kaishun Liu, Martinius Stenshorne, and DRAGON.

Featuring the yellow-and-red livery of B-Max Racing, B-Max Racing’s very own team principal DRAGON will take to the grid. The renowned motorsports figure is no stranger to the Macau Guia Circuit as he has raced on the famous track on previous occasions. This will also be a reunion for both B-Max Racing and Pinnacle Motorsport after teaming up for the F3 Asian Championship in 2018.

Another returnee for the team is Kai Daryanani from India. He competed under Pinnacle Motorsport in the 2023 F4 UAE Championship before moving to British F4 later in the year. Daryanani will be joined by fellow Formula 4 driver Kaishun Liu. After an impressive F4 Chinese debut in 2022 where he finished on the podium, he returned to the series in 2023 and currently sits 2nd overall in the Drivers’ Championship.

Hailing from Norway, Martinius Stenshorne completes the team’s lineup solely for the Macau GP Invitational event. The 17-year-old has extensive experience in single-seaters despite his young age, competing in Formula 4 championships in the Middle East and Europe in 2022 before moving up to Formula Regional where he finished as Vice Champion in the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship.

The revitalized Formula 4 South East Asia Championship Certified by FIA visits 3 circuits for the 2023 season. Pinnacle Motorsport will mark its entry at the 70th Macau Grand Prix invitational race on November 10/12. Free Practice and Qualifying will take place on Saturday followed by an 8-lap qualification race and a 12-lap main race on Sunday around the 6.276 km Guia Circuit. The championship then moves to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the final 2 events of the year with 3 races each.

Formula 4 South East Asia Championship Certified by FIA 2023 Calendar Invitational | November 10-12 (Macau Guia Circuit, China) Round 2 | November 24-26 (Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia) Round 3 | December 1-2 (Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia)

John O’Hara, Pinnacle Motorsport Team Director: “It’s good to be back racing in South East Asia and have B-Max Racing with us in the new F4 South East Asia season. We’ve been away from the region since the pandemic and it’s only fitting to mark our return with an event at the historic Macau Guia Circuit. Looking forward to working again with Kai and DRAGON who have driven with Pinnacle Motorsport before. I’d also like to welcome Kaishun and Martinius to the team.”

Accompanying Pinnacle Motorsport on their Formula 4 South East Asia Championship Certified by FIA campaign are partners Motorsport Ireland, B-Max Racing Team and KC Motorgroup Ltd.

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