GT Radial FlatOut Race Series – Round 6
Batangas, Philippines (16 August 2016) – The country’s premier grassroots motorsport event, the GT Radial FlatOut Race Series (FORS), held its 6th round at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC) last August 6, 2016.
A field of 97 participants competed in the day’s Time Trial and Grid races which made use of BRC’s full 3.7 km long track. All the on-track action went as planned despite the overcast weather that threatened the afternoon sessions. Although there were light drizzles, it was not enough to cause delays in the day’s schedule.
Guided by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), the Motorsport Development Program (MSDP) finalists also had their first circuit training session. Don Pastor, the brother of the late racing legend Enzo Pastor, was notably present to support the event.
Time Trial
The top-classed Bracket A saw Eduardo Suiza in the GT Radial SX2-shod Competition Clutch Honda Civic EG achieve a best time of 1:48.294 to claim 1st. He was exactly 1.5 secs clear of 2nd placer JC Baguisa in the JCT-Blanche Honda Civic Hatchback who elapsed a 1:49.794 time. Rafael La’O in the Auto Magic Honda Civic EK Hatchback came in 3rd with a time of 1:50.425.
Ed Christian Go was the fastest driver in Bracket B with his 1:56.285 lap. Meanwhile, 14-year old Gabby Sohu in the PAGCOR/Zenium/Gerco-sponsored Honda came in a close 2nd place with Aaron Lao completing the podium with a time of 1:57.555. For Bracket C, Paolo Lofamia got the top podium spot with a 1:59.028 run. Raffy Sohu’s 1:59.505 best earned him 2nd and Vanni Garcia who clocked in a 1:59.799 lap was 3rd.
Polo Bautista bested Zachary Mendoza and Julius Beredo for the Bracket D Class. Bracket E saw John Benedict Carbonel take home 1st place by a slim 0.001 sec margin over Hector Tan, while Jun Cabrera was 3rd. Aian Serrano’s 2:08.170 lap put him in 1st for Bracket F. Anthony Richard Lanting clinched 2nd and Romualdo Vasquez was 3rd .
Beating 13 other drivers, the fastest in the heavily-contested Bracket G Class was Anton Moncupa, while Mars Ocampo and Andre Makkina Tan came in 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Bracket R was topped by Eduardo Suiza, followed by Sam Avila and JC Baguisa. Finally, the winners in the support classes The Perfect Lap and Grupo Toyota were Keng Pascual and Mark Macas.
More Photos here
Grid Races
Eduardo Suiza was untouchable in the GT Radial Grid A race. Starting from pole, he enjoyed a lights-to-flag victory and opened a 7.275 sec gap to 2nd placer Don Don Portugal in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII. JC Baguisa crossed the line a further 10.437 secs behind and claimed the last step on the podium.
In the Smart Fuels Grid B race, Ed Christian Go in the AEM Electronics Blanche Honda Civic Hatchback finished 13.378 secs clear of Gabby Sohu. Sydney Sarmiento unfortunately failed to finish after retiring on lap 8.
Joey Howard dashed to victory In the Competition Clutch Grid C race over Vanni Garcia and Raffy Sohu. But a contact between Aaron Lao and Paolo Lofamia ended Lofamia’s race prematurely on lap 2. Both drivers were then excluded from the final results due to the incident.
The Buddy Club Grid D and Works Bell Grid E races were combined to form a large 23-car field. A majority of entrants in Grid D broke out of their bracket times and were handed between 60 to 180 sec penalties. Those who didn’t, however, were also the fastest drivers. Raymond De Pano emerged victorious and was followed by John Benedict Carbonel and Hector Tan. There were less incidents in Grid E withAnthony Richard Lanting finishing 1st, Jack Saquilayan in 2nd and Florentino Gonzales in 3rd.
The GT Radial FlatOut Race Series (FORS) returns to the Batangas Racing Circuit on September 17, 2016 for Round 7.
For more info or inquiries, visit the FlatOut Race Series page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FlatOutRaceSeries).
The 2016 Flat Out Race Series (FORS) is sponsored by GT Radial – Philippines, Smartfuels, Competition Clutch, Icer Brakes, Staging Lanes, Buddyclub, Works Bell, Spy Eyewear, Tuason Racing School, BMC Air Filters, Gamutek, and Recaro. FORS is also supported by Gamotek Tarpauline Machine, Stoner Car Care & Glass Detailing, Tropicana Scents Car Freshener, Ninja Performance, MDU Coilovers, Target Motorsports, Aguila Auto Glass, Walter Lights and Sounds, A1 Advertising, Aeromed. Philgerma Mfg. Inc. Media partners include LGT Manila, Time Attack Manila, AutoIndustriya.com, AutoCar Philippines, Sportline Magazine, C! Magazine, JDM Underground, 2ner Magazine, and AutoDeal.com.ph.
[Photos by Jahan Kalam]
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