Inigo Anton weathered both the strong rains due to typhoon Paeng and two rivals who took him to the edge and win two of three last races at the Clark International Speedway last October 28 and 30 to win the 2022 SEAOIL Radical Challenge Philippines.
Not only did the 18-year old first year college son of restaurateur Carlos, a former top racer himself, found the weather against him due to the strong rain but also found Stefan Ramirez and Israeli Gilad Kreim his strongest rivals.
After topping the qualifier of the season ending race in the afternoon of October 28 for pole position and Ramirez right beside him, Anton found lone female racer Angie King ahead of him with the latter clocking a record 1:53.378. But King managed to hold her lead in just four laps when her car suffered an alternator issue in the fifth lap forcing her to retire.
Anton seized the initiative and made it to the finish line all by himself towing Ramirez and Kreim to finish second and third, respectively.
With typhoon Paeng unleashing his wrath on the day two of races on October 30, the racers used their safety cars as rain settled to a drizzle.
This time, however, Anton played catch to pacesetting Ramirez who eventually won the race, with the Baguio boy at second and Kreim at third setting up a finale pitting the winners of the first two races against each other for the crown.
As organizers were thinking of canceling the last race, the rains suddenly stopped allowing them to go on with the finale.
Ramirez took the initial lead but Anton fought back and preserved his lead until he was flagged down at the finish line to secure the win and the season.
Ramirez settled for second place, while Kreim took third place.
Anton on his Facebook page exclaimed after winning the title:”It feels so surreal!!!”
The young Anton, who celebrated his 10th year of racing using a helmet he personally designed in the hope that it will take him to international races soon, added;”There are so many people I would like to thank for this victory. I am grateful to all of you!”
The SEAOIL Radical Challenge is backed by SEAOIL Extreme 97 Octane as the official fuel with MOTUL Philippine distributor Infinteserv International as a co-presentor of the season and which provide all cars n grid with Motul 300V engine oil. Pigeon Lobien
