Just over one week prior to the event, PLDT and Nokia approached AF3 with a plea to help put a team together for what is fast becoming one of the more prestigious events on the Philippine's motor sport calendar. GT racer Angelo Barretto, Nokia's Juha Roiha and AF3's Edgen Dy-Liacco and Mark Goddard worked wonders to organize a team at such short notice. AF3 drivers, Dado Pena, John O'Hara and Ali Jackson were persuaded to join the team along with Esa Ahtianinen and Timo Koponen of Nokia. The latter two undertook a concentrated practice campaign at Speedzone and impressed by getting down to relatively competitve lap times in the space of a few days.
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The karts to be used by each team were drawn by lot five minutes before the 2pm start on Saturday, which was delayed ten minutes whilst the chassis drawn by the PLDT/Nokia/AF3 team was replaced with a back up kart after the original refused to start! Ali Jackson started for the team and the European Karting Champion was soon circulating three seconds off the pace.
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Ali Jackson
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After much negotiation the organizers agreed to change the chassis once Dado Pena had taken over driving duties and the ex Asian Kart Champion was also unable to lap any faster. Once installed in the new kart the Filipino was immediately on the pace, entertaining the crowd with a forceful dice with fellow AF3 racer and race leader, Tyson Sy of the Altronics/WL foods Team.
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John O'Hara
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John O’Hara had a trouble free run, running for over three hours at a great pace and hauling the team up into third place. GT racer, Angelo Barretto took over and was consistently fast until he suffered total brake failure. Whilst repairs were made by the ever efficient Speedzone mechanics, Barretto stepped into the original chassis and circulated three seconds off the pace. Once back into the repaired kart he was immediately back up to speed and completed a great stint, at three hours and twenty minutes the longest of any driver competing, before handing over to Edgen Dy-Liacco who cemented the team’s third place with a fast trouble free drive. Mark Goddard took over for another trouble free stint before handing over to Esa Ahtianinen of Nokia who impressed with his pace and consistency.
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Timo gets ready
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Esa handed over to fellow Finn, Timo Koponen who like his compatriot was taking part in his first motor sport event and who also kept up a consistent pace to allow the team to draw away from the fourth placed Speedzone TRS Kids Team. The latter was crewed by young karting stars, the eldest being fourteen years old, who were impressing with their speed.
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Wheel bearing failure
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Timo handed over to kart racer, Juha Roiha of Nokia, who drove a long stint just short of that of Barretto. However his consistent and fast lapping was interrupted when a front wheel bearing failed and he was forced to take to the slow original chassis whilst repairs were made. Once again he was circulating three seconds off the pace until he was able to get his hands on the repaired kart again. Roiha handed over to Ali Jackson late morning and the Irishman was right on the pace now he was in a competitive kart. However another front wheel bearing failure forced an early stop and Dado Pena took over in the slow chassis. Once back in the race chassis Pena was again lapping fast and handed over to John O’Hara who took the chequered flag in a fine third place despite completing the last hour with almost zero brakes!
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John takes the flag
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“We are sure without the mechanical problems we would have been at least second if not first, although that would have been difficult.” reported Team Manager, Mark Goddard. “The winning team, Altronics/WL Foods, had no mechanical drama and that really helped them. I have to thank PLDT, Nokia and Eddie Pena of AF3 for supporting the team and the efforts of Juha Roiha and Angelo Barretto who put it all together in a very short space of time."
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Post race interview
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"We also have to thank Edgen Dy-Liacco and his Speedtech Asia Team along with Team Goddard who helped with the logistics, Moniz Goddard and Joey Carpo who organized the food and drinks and of course all the drivers who put in so much effort over the 24 hours. We are now already planning how we can come back next year and win the event! This was a fantastic race and we have to thank Speedzone for putting on such a professionally run race and giving the opportunity for so many new racers to compete. It’s introducing new drivers to the sport as well as giving a great deal of fun to the experienced racers”
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John and Tsyon Sy
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Special mentions should go to AF3 racer, Tyson Sy, who was a member of the winning team and who set the fastest race time and a new lap record of 55.503 seconds and to ex-AF3 driver, Mike Potenciano who not only entered two teams but also kept the crowd entertained with a 24 hour commentary!
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Mark Goddard accepts the trophy
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1. Altronic WL Foods
2. Bridgestone
3. PLDT/Nokia/AF3
4. Speedzone/TRS kids
5. Canon-Prestige BMW
6. RPM/MP Turbo
7. MP Turbo
8. Media Team
