G Wheel to honor year’s top drivers

The Golden Wheel Awards Night will fete last year’s achievers in motor sports on March 18 in glittery rites at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura in Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

Wi t h the theme “Uncompromising Safety in Utmost Professionalism,” the organizing Golden Wheel Foundation Inc. said the judges composed of top racing officials and media will put emphasis on the impact of the contenders’ feats in their selection of the 2016 Golden Wheel Driver of the Year award.

Winners of various racing events are automatically nominated for the coveted award. They are Scooter champion John Emerson Inguito, Underbone King Masato Fernando, Superbikes champion Marvin Mangulabnan, Motocross champion Glenn Aguilar, Slalom champion Milo Rivera, Grand Touring champion Edwin Rodriguez, Drag Racing Driver of the Year Jonathan Tiu, Classic Car champion Dexter Daquigan, 4x4 Offroad champion Cesar Daquil, Asian Karting Junior champion John Dizon, Asian Karting Senior champion and Karter of the Year Jerry Choi.

Joining the elite Hall of Fame circle this year is Motocross legend Dennis Acdol.

Of the 11 champi o n nominees, Choi, Rodriguez, Tiu and Mangulabnan are expected to dispute the Golden Wheel plum.

Choi will bank on his victories in the X30 Senior of the Petron X30 Series and his overall runner-up feat in the ROK Senior in the Petron ROK Karting Super Series. He also won the 2016 International Karter of the Year and 2016 Asian Senior Karter of the Year honors.

Rodriguez set the record as the first GT100 driver to win the Yokohama Grand Touring Driver of the Year unlike the event’s past champions, who were all GT300 drivers.

The Golden Wheel Awards was conceptualized in 2003 with the vision of seeing a Filipino champion on the world motorsports stage. Marlon Stockinger made it as part of the Junior Lotus Team in Formula One Racing.

For details, call the Golden Wheel Foundation c/o Nelson Gayola, Rose Feria, Rodini Rivera or Meann Daliva at 845-2241.