After a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the much-awaited Formula V1 race series made its return this year with Tuason Racing’s efforts to bring back the adrenaline-filled competition – all for the love of Philippine motorsports.
Presented by Phoenix Fuels, GITI-Tires, powered by PLDT Home and supported by Family Mart and Limitless, GITI-Formula V1 Race Challenge’s 2nd and Final Round was held last December 4-5 at Clark International Speedway.
The pulse-racing set of races enabled all competitors gun for overall titles and become this year’s on-track kings. Leading up to the weekend, intense title battles were present wherein Joaquin Garrido of Phoenix Pulse Racing and Julian Colvin Tang of Obengers Racing leading the AM class, while Daniel Miranda of Obengers Racing and Milo Rivera of Frontrow Racing – Edgesport battling neck and neck for the PRO and overall championship.
Round 5: THE SAGA CONTINUES
PRO Class racers have shown the intensity of a true racing battlefield with Daniel Miranda hitting it off first during the start of Race 5 followed closely by newcomer and British Formula 4 mainstay Eduardo Coseteng of Eagle Cement Racing – Edgesport. Other cars attempted to take the lead from Miranda, yet he never looked back. He and fellow title contender Rivera continuously led the next laps with Miranda eventually clinching the 12-lap race over the Frontrow Racing ace driver. Coseteng rounds up the podium by finishing third.
The AM Class had the most number of drivers mixed with the young guns and race veterans. Phoenix PULSE Racing Team’s Joaquin Garrido did not hold back as he tried to compete side by side with PRO Class racers on the track. Julian Tang also tried to make a pass with Sebastian Soto, while Cesco Dino and Julian Neri stayed close to them as well, wanting to claim the top spot. By the end of race 5, Garrido prevailed on top.
Round 6: READY, SET, RACE!
AM Class Race 5 Champion Garrido had a pretty bad start, dropping a few places during the first lap which made it a tough race for him, however the Phoenix Pulse young racer still managed to crawl his way back clinch the top spot of his category, followed by Cesco Dino of Edgesport Racing in 2 nd , and Julian Tang in 3rd place.
The PRO division saw Milo Rivera take the lead from lights out and maintain it ahead of Coseteng then Miranda all the way to the checkered flag. However, a mid-race penalty saw Rivera relegated to 2nd place, promoting Coseteng to his maiden win in the series.
Round 7: HARDWORK TAKES YOU PLACES
Title leader Miranda had to start the race from the pits due to a technical infringement but it did not stop him from making an epic rally on Race 7. Starting from far back of the pack, Miranda managed to climb his way up to 3 rd place following the lead of Rivera and Coseteng.
Amid the intense battle in the PRO class, young driver Joaquin Garrido of Phoenix Pulse Racing Team once again proved that he is the man to beat in the AM class after showing that he can be at par with the racing veterans – clinching his third straight win of the weekend ahead of Julian Tang and Cesco Dino, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Round 8: ENDING THE SERIES WITH A BANG.
The 15-year old AM Phoenix Driver Garrido set his weekend up on fire even more by making a lightning start and taking the early overall race lead ahead of Miranda and Rivera. However, it was short lived as the two PRO frontrunners along with Eduardo Coseteng regained the top spots which eventually paved the way for the most intense battle of the weekend and of the series. The next laps turned out to be Milo Rivera’s defining moment as he took the lead from Miranda, followed by six laps of neck-and-neck battling for the last win of the season. Everyone at the Clark International Speedway tuned in to witness the grueling battle, with Rivera having to successfully defend his lead all the way to the very checkered flag, taking the season-ender over Miranda, with Coseteng finishing 3rd.
Although missing out on the intense battle between the PRO drivers, Garrido did not feel disappointed at all as he still finished on top of the AM class, sweeping and dominating his competitors all weekend.
Fans and spectators need not to worry of missing the on-track action as they can watch the race highlight broadcasts on the 15th of December for rounds 5 and 6, and 22nd of December for the championship rounds 7 and 8.