Velasco tows Toyota Team Cebu to historic finish

By Jonas Panerio Philippine Daily Inquirer September 20,2017

From left, Ferdie Ong (Vios Cup race director), Jette Calderon, Sean Velasco, Lord Seno, Oscar Suarez, Brian Currie, Clive Fermin, Bobby Pangilinan, team manager John Velasco, team principal Dodo Cuenco and Toyota executive Takao Arai

 

From last to first

This was the exciting path that budding Cebuano racer Sean Kieran Velasco took to take the checkered flag in the Sporting Class of the third leg of the Toyota Vios Cup Season 4 last Saturday at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Velasco’s impressive victory was but a part of Toyota Team Cebu’s historic haul during the said leg, which saw Cebuanos dominate the Sporting and the Super Sporting Classes.

The Sporting Class was where history was made. For the first time, three members of the same team took the podium spots.

Velasco finished with a time of 18 minutes and 42.047 seconds, followed by team skipper and veteran racer Lord Seno at 18:43.220. Oscar Suarez placed third with a time of 18:45.861 seconds.

Multi-titled racer Jette Calderon gave Cebu another reason to celebrate as he won the Super Sporting class, even after starting 10th on the grid.

Calderon crossed the finish line of the seven-lap race in 18:33.366, just a second ahead of second placer Dominic Ochoa, and third place winner Keith Bryan Haw.

Toyota Team Cebu is now leading for team championship honors, followed closely by rivals Team Obengers/Toyota Balintawak and TSF/Toyota San Fernando.
Velasco’ road to redemption began in Race 1, which he won but got disqualified after he was found carrying a mobile phone in his pocket after the race, leaving him to start Race 2 at the very back of the grid.

 

“I wasn’t aware it was in my pocket. I think I was rushing to get myself seated in the car and brought it along with me,” Velasco said.

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