Coseteng secures his 11th tiara in Subic

ilSUBIC—Jody Coseteng of San Mig Coffee and Alvin Santos of Kotse Network-Mark Young Racing Team emerged as overall champions in their respective divisions in the championship round of the 2007 Philippine Touring Car Championship held recently at the Subic International Raceway.

Despite losing the final leg, Coseteng still bagged the overall crown in the Group 1 division for his 11th straight touring car diadem—an unprecedented feat in Philippine motorsports history.

Santos, meanwhile, survived the challenge from a Japanese rival to complete a season sweep and clinch the Group 3 title of this event sponsored by Seaoil, Motolite, Alaxan FR, Federal Tyres, TNT, Ray-Ban, Starbright Body Kits, Gerry’s Grill, Bendix, Subic International Raceway and Autoindustriya.com and media partners Studio 23 and NU107.5 FM.

Coseteng may have won the title, but it didn’t go his way the way he wanted it to be.

Due to some minor technical glitch, Coseteng was penalized and lost some points along the way.

Coseteng was about to redeem himself in the afternoon race as he was way ahead of the pack when his engine suddenly blew up with eight laps to go, thus forcing him out of the race.

But the day really belonged to Kookie Ramirez of Petron-SRA, who pulled off a sweep of the final leg to formally bag overall runner-up honors in the Group 1 category.

Louis Ramirez, also of Petron-SRA, grabbed second spot over Nico Montinola of Akula Racing.

In the afternoon, Dennis Uy of Valvoline-Velocity Motors unveiled a more aggressive performance to clinch runner-up honors over Louis Ramirez.

Santos, on the other hand, thought that he had the victory in the bag, but was surprised by the tough challenge coming from Japanese driver Tai Tomoyuki of Vivid Speedwelle.

Tomoyuki had a strong start and assumed control until the seventh lap. Santos rode hard to inch closer after every lap until he came side by side with the Japanese.

But a slight collision had Tomoyuki’s vehicle suffering a damaged back fender that slowed him down and paved the way for Santos’ victory.

Tomoyuki eventually checked in second while Doby Atillano of Howroyd & Benjamin Racing and Angelo Tambo of Bosch Racing wound up third and fourth in the morning encounter.

In the afternoon, the Japanese was back to pose another challenge to Santos.

But Tomoyuki again got entangled in another mess and ended fifth behind runner-up Bingo Valero of Bosch

Racing, third placer Atillano and fourth placer Angelo Tambo.

All these exciting PTCC action can be viewed in full on “Slipstream TV,” which will soon be back for its seventh season. The program will be hosted by Dominic Uy with international racer Gaby de la Merced every Sunday, 12 noon, on Studio 23—the Home of Real Racing.
Manila Standard Today