SISON, BINAMIRA SPLIT HONORS IN SAN MIG COFFEE VINTAGE SPORTS CAR CUP
 

Frontrunning Mon Sison and Juny Binamira thrilled the huge crowd with their intense showdown as they split honors recently in the 2006 San Mig Coffee Vintage Sports Car Cup at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

Sison, who won the last race in Subic, unveiled a spectacular run completing the six-lap race in 10:30.686 for his second straight win in this series organized by the Batangas Racing Circuit and the Manila Sports Car Club, and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation and San Mig Coffee.

But it didn't come without a hitch.  Early on, Louie Camus was leading the race comfortably in his Lola T70 Replica.  Then with 1 lap to go the engine stalled with what looked like a problem with the fuel system.  Sison, who had a close encounter with Binamira in the early goings, had to push his elegant Porsche 911 to a fastest laptime of 2:10.825 on the fourth lap to fend of Binamira's Lotus 7 Replica.  After going past Camus' stationary Lola on lap 5, he continued to pull away and secured his triumph 14.772 seconds ahead of Binamira who clocked 10:45.458.

Romeo Mercado bagged third place while Dr. Luigi Lira and Dr. Sandy Coronel, aboard his Karmann Ghia, wound up fourth and fifth respectively.

Binamira, who experienced some fuel pick-up problems in the first race, upstaged Sison in the afternoon race, as he quickly grabbed the pole at the start and pulled away from the pack before wrapping up his victory in 11:05.552 seconds.

He posted the day's fastest time of 2:05.674 as he checked in 13 seconds ahead of Sison.

Lito Ignacio parading his Toyota Celica battled with Louie Camus for third place honors. The two diced through out the race with Camus holding an early advantage over the fast Celica.  However, it would proved to be Camus' unlucky day as he once again pulled over to the side of the track and retired the crowd favorite Lola T70 Replica.  It turned out that a sliding clutch was the culprit this time around.  Ignacio finished third ahead of fourth placer Romeo Mercado in his reliable Opel GT.