Welcoming a new calendar of formula racing in the country, Tuason Racing inaugurated the 2023 season of the Formula V1 Race Challenge. Set at the Clark International Speedway last June 9-10, 2023, the opening season hosted the first three races of the year which exhibited adrenaline-pumping action throughout the weekend.
Obengers Racing Team’s Iñigo Anton was already exhibiting that it was a race weekend for him to dominate early in the qualifying time trials as he grabbed pole position with the time of 2:11.475. Meanwhile, OTR Racing Team’s Joaquin Garrido completed the front row race start with his QTT time of 2:12.244 which earned him P2.
First race of the 2023 Formula V1 Race Challenge saw 13 drivers on the grid of mixed Pro (Professional) Class and AM (amateur) Class. It was a wet weather setting as the lights went out signalling the start of the race. Despite the rains, the action was on a high in the first-ever race of the season. Originally scheduled for 12 laps, the race had to be red flagged several laps early due to the puddles accumulating in parts of the track. For the Pro Class, the battle between Anton and Garrido ended in the first race with Anton taking home the win. The AM class was won by Autoholic Raceform’s Rainy Medina followed by OTR Racing Team’s Oliver Aquino in second and Edgesport Racing Team’s Paolo Ayo in third.
Race number two happened the following day and in a better condition which allowed more wheel-to-wheel action. Inigo Anton was having a flawless weekend so far as the young Obengers Racing Team driver grabbed another win in the Pro Class. Completing the class podium was West Racing Team/Autoplus’ Kazuki Takemura in second place followed by OTR Racing Team’s Joaquin Garrido in third. Meanwhile, the AM Class Race 2 podium featured the same names and position with Medina taking the top spot followed by Aquino in second and Ayo in third.
Giving a fitting first round cap, Saturday’s Race 3 was action-packed from start to finish as Anton, Garrido, and Takemura battled it out for the top spot. The three Pro Class contenders swapped places multiple times throughout the 12-lap race. But it was Joaquin Garrido who emerged as the race winner with his overtaking move at the final turn that ended Inigo Anton’s perfect race weekend. Anton finished in second place while Takemura settled in third completing the Pro Class podium. As for the AM Class, OTR Racing Team’s Oliver Aquino won the final race of the weekend followed by Rainy Medina in second and Dondi San Jose of MOHS Racing/Matonetics in third, completing the AM Class Race 3 podium.
Next round of the series will be happening on July 21-22, 2023 at the Clark International Speedway. For more information and updates about the Formula V1 Race Challenge visit and follow Tuason Racing’s official Facebook page.
