FORMER national champion Martin Manalo of RSL Motorsports survived the strong fight from defending champion Jonathan Tiu of JCT Blanche Racing to pull off the deciding victory that netted for him the overall plum of the 2015 National Drag Racing Championship Southern Series recently at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas.
overall drag racing southern series plum.
It was the third win for Manalo, tagged as drag-racing’s ‘Batangas Barako,’ in the premier M&H Pro class that sealed for him the overall Southern Series championship of this event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by M&H, Sparco, Aguila Auto Glass and GT Radials.
The feat likewise boosted Manalo’s chances for another crack at the national Drag Racing Driver of the Year that he won back in 2011.
Spectators were looking forward to an exciting showdown between the top two drag racers. Everything came to form when Tiu turned back teammate Jonathan Young to barge for the first time this season into the finals of the M&H Pro class and seal the title duel with Manalo.
Manalo kept composure as he and Tiu were even during the first few meters of their title showdown. But the big twist came when Tiu’s run ended in a breakout that handed the pride of Batangas the outright triumph.
Young eventually settled for third.
Tiu went all out to push his hopes for the Southern Series plum as he strategically made his way up to capture the Quick 8 crown, though his Honda was not as fast as his Nissan R35 that set the Philippine drag racing all-time fastest record of 8.806 seconds.
He clocked 12.190 on his solo final run as Rommel Dural withdrew from the final showdown due to engine problems.
Ryan Quimpo prevailed in the battle for third place with a time of 12.8 seconds.
The 2015 Drag Racing season comes to a close with the final leg of the Northern Series on May 28.
For details, contact the Batangas Racing Circuit, c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 7295365, mobile 0932-8604522 like the circuit on Facebook, or check out website www.batangasracingcircuit.org.