Rivera seeks 3rd double win in karting series

The battle for this year’s Karter of the Year award heats up with the staging of the fourth leg of the National Karting Series this Sunday in Brgy. Bangkal, Carmona, Cavite.

Estefano Rivera of FERN-C Racing is eyeing his third straight double title feat in a bid to firm up the solo lead in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Motorstar and Aeromed.

Following his big win at Boomland Kart Track, the 15-year-old Rivera hopes to become the second karter in history to win both the Karter of the Year and Junior Karter of the Year in a single season after Joey Orduna, then 14, did the feat to emerge the youngest karting champion in 2009.

Rivera now holds a total of 205 points in the ROK overall, a wide lead over FERN-C Racing teammate VJ Suba and Industria Racing’s CJ Tsui who garnered 178 and 111 points, respectively.

In the ROK Junior class, he has earned 230 points so far against Daniel Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier-Marcelo Racing (151 pts.) and FERN-C Racing teammate and last year’s Clubman Karter Matthew Chan (126 pts).

Out to foil Rivera’s bid are Sacha Feliciano of Marcelo Racing, Javi Benitez and Bobby Domingo of Industria Racing, older brother Milo Rivera of FERN-C Racing and Jaz Monzones of Natmo Asia-GP1 Racing.

Two other top industria Racing karters – Franco Reyes and last year’s Junior Karter Jette Calderon – are also expected to vie in the event.