Paul Constantine “Basti” Dumlao wrapped up his first season in outdoor karting in dramatic fashion, securing the 2026 Bambino title in T4 Series Pilipinas by just 4 points after a decisive victory in the final round at the Carmona Race Track (CRT).
Racing for Drift Motor Racing Team, Basti began his campaign on February 21/22 during the opening round of T4 Series Pilipinas that ran alongside the T4 Asia Cup at Carmona. The 6-year-old finished 2nd in the national series while also taking 3rd in the T4 Asia Cup, giving him a strong start to the season.
Basti returned to Carmona for Round 2 in May, where a 3rd place finish in the Final put him 3rd in the championship standings. Although he endured a more difficult Round 3 in June where he finished 5th, he managed to hold onto 3rd in the points.
That left him with ground to make up when T4 Series Pilipinas returned to Carmona for its final double-header in July.
Basti started the weekend by winning the Pre-Final in Round 4 on July 18 before finishing 2nd in the Final. Although he remained 3rd in the standings, the result brought him closer to the championship leaders with one round remaining.
Everything would then come down to Round 5 the following day.
Basti won the Pre-Final before taking his first Final victory of the season when it mattered most. The result moved him from 3rd to 1st in the championship standings, allowing him to secure the Bambino title with 179.5 points and a winning margin of just 4 points.
The championship also earned Basti an entry to represent the Philippines at the 2026 T4 Nations Cup, scheduled from September 30 to October 4 at Kartódromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero in Valencia, Spain.
With a 3rd-place finish in the T4 Asia Cup and the T4 Series Pilipinas Bambino title secured in his first outdoor karting season, Basti ends his 2026 campaign with his biggest result coming at the very last round.
“Basti has worked hard all season, training with his teammates at Drift Motor Racing Team in Carmona, indoors, and on the sim,” said his mom, Tutti Dumlao. “We’re very thankful to everyone who has been part of this journey, especially his coaches Charls Jamorabon, Yuan Bugayong, Yash Bugayong, Christian Gaddi, and Michael Andaya, as well as head mechanic Christian dela Cruz and Kent Namocale of Axel Motorsports Gruppe (AMG). It really took a whole team supporting and guiding Basti to achieve this championship.”
Motorsport runs in the Dumlao family, with Basti following in the footsteps of his father and coach, former Vios Cup racer Pauland Dumlao who scored race wins and podiums for Toyota San Fernando (TSF). Basti’s 9-year-old sister Bella has also been a regular presence at the track, spending the past year training alongside her younger brother while Basti focused on his first season of competition.
Now preparing for her own T4 Series Pilipinas debut in 2027, Bella is training in the Cadet class together with Basti, with the siblings working towards sharing the grid next season.
Basti Dumlao is sponsored by Primetime Creatives, Chandler’s List, Ton Cars, and Ban Kee Bricks.
For more info and the latest updates, follow BGDumlao Racing on Facebook and @bgdumlaoracing on IG.
[Photos courtesy of Enthusiast Media]
