Although he’s not a rookie when it comes to competing overseas, 5x national karting champion Miguel Quiñones agrees that there’s still a lot to learn when it comes to racing. That’s why for 2024, he has added the INF1NITY IAME Series Asia into his program, enabling Miguel to sharpen his skills further as he races with some of the best karters in the region. And it was a tough learning experience indeed when he made his debut at the season opener in Thailand where he finished in 7th.
The experience had a lot of firsts for the young Filipino. It was his first time to race at the 1.321 km Bira Karting Circuit. Also a first is for him to use a Kart Republic chassis with Fireball Motorsports, a team whom he entered with for the very first time. Yet, with his experience, all these didn’t seem to matter as he was able to set respectable times during Official Practice.
“The track itself felt really good and I really like the layout of Bira,” commented Miguel about the track. “It gives off a vibe of being technical but also has high speed sections. Every corner is connected to one another and the flow is good.”
Showing improvements at every session, Miguel later qualified P10 during the Time Trials and was only 0.937 secs off pole. He then improved on his starting position during the 12-lap Heats to finish 8th in both. While his driving gradually improved over the weekend, Miguel shared that the setup on his #215 kart still couldn’t keep up with the Top 5 drivers in the Senior Category. He was also at a slight disadvantage in terms of knowing where the best places to overtake were, which the seasoned local karters have already ingrained into their memory.
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Miguel went full send on the final day of racing. He had a clean start during the grueling 20-lap Super Heat and held position in P8. He then came under attack on lap 3 and dropped down to 9th, which he held until the chequered flag dropped.
The 22-lap Finals was a race of attrition under the hot Thai heat. Miguel was able to get a quick getaway and improve a spot on the opening lap to slot into P8. Keeping his head down, he then made another clean move in the closing stages to secure 7th and defend his position from a hard-charging Sra Anuras from Thailand all the way to the finish line.
After gaining a ton of experience from his INF1NITY IAME Series Asia debut, Miguel is poised to come back stronger for Round 2 on April 27/28 held at the same circuit.
Miguel Quiñones: “It was a good learning experience in terms of driving, where to overtake, and finding the right setup. Enjoyed my first race at Bira and to use a Kart Republic chassis in an open track. Looking forward to be back here for the next round in April and apply what I’ve learned”
Miguel Quiñones is sponsored by DRQ Motorsports, RZQ The Aesthetic Surgery Clinic, RZQ Aesthetic Medicine Institude, Derma Medica, and Coca-Cola.
[Photos by Bong Boado]
