Following in the footsteps of her older brother Miguel, Shaniah (aka Shasha) Quiñones is also making a name for herself in the world of karting. The 15-year-old made several competitive outings last year, but is looking at on a more serious campaign in 2020. Remarkably, things got underway on a positive note after she landed on the podium during the Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC) last weekend.
Shasha, like many other young aspiring champions, got her start in the Petron Motorsports Karting Academy way back in 2018. Driving for Dr. Q Motorsports, she then made her race debut the following year, entering a handful of races as a Junior Class karter both local and abroad.
Now in 2020, the AKOC season opener at the Sentul Kart Circuit in Indonesia would be her first event of the year. Although she was the only lady driver amongst the Junior Class runners, Shasha made sure to keep up with the boys in Qualifying and in all the Heats. Her times steadily improved at every session and managed to slash 1.656 secs off her best lap before the Pre-Finals.
But the real test on her abilities came during the Finals, which was run in the wet. It took her a lot of effort just to keep the #201 Kosmic Kart in control under poor conditions during the 13-lap race. And with a big sigh of relief, Shasha safely made it to the chequered flag 10th across the line and 3rd in the X30 Junior Class to earn a spot on the podium.
Shasha Quiñones: “Although I have raced abroad in the past, this was my first time racing in Sentul and was quite nervous when we arrived. I didn’t really expect to get anything out of the race and just wanted to improve myself and my driving. So it was a surprise to finish on the Junior Class podium and really happy with the experience here at AKOC. I had a lot of fun and will work harder for the future races ahead.”
Shasha Quiñones is sponsored by RZQ The Aesthetic Surgery Clinic, RZQ Aesthetic Medicine Institude, AMI Medispa and Beauty Products, St. Francis Animal Bite Center, and St. Scholastica’s College WestGrove.
[Photos courtesy of Bong Boado]
