Filipino racing siblings making strides abroad

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino siblings Michele and Mark Bumgarner made significant strides in the international motorsports circuit, following their marked improvement in separate races held last month in North America. Michele, a two-time Asian Karting winner, made inroads in the Star Mazda Series at Watkins Glen Circuit in New York, impressing race officials present there including team owner John Walko. The red-flag track conditions made the race more challenging for Michele who didn’t register a personal fast lap and ended 19th in the qualifiers. But she finished as the second-best driver for improving positions during the race as she started fast, passing one driver after another despite a slipping clutch on the sixth lap. With a lap time of 1:49.490 she moved up to 11th place, despite the uphill portions of the track slowing her down. She could’ve finished 10th with two laps to go but a mechanical problem pulled her down to 19th. Mark Bumgarner also had an impressive run, doing it at the Skip Barbers National Series held at the Mosport Race track outside of Toronto. Getting himself adjusted to the new track, Mark managed to move up to third during practice before qualifying ninth. During the race proper, Mark kept in pace with the main pack, finishing eighth with a total time of 23:34.55. A collision that forced him out in the second race, however, hurt an otherwise budding campaign. “It was a different experience. We had a good progression and at the same time, we were able to identify some weaknesses that have to be worked on going forward to the next race in Alabama on July 17," Mark, who is currently 10th overall in the series with 100 points, said. “It made us realize that a motorsports career is a constant evolution with goals to achieve each time you go on track," his sister Michele added. “It’s a never-ending process as each level offers new challenges and experiences as we move on striving harder in our goal as prominent Filipino drivers in the international scene," she added, Michele will race next on July 24 to 27 in Portland, Oregon. - GMANews.TV