Proving his mettle as a rising local go-kart star, Resultado Racing's Mikel Fuentes took third place in the combined Formula 125 Senior Open and ROK GP Senior race of the recent Asian Karting Open Championship last leg at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Ranged against an elite field, Fuentes overcame some early challenges in finishing a strong third, clocking 19 minutes and 55.247 seconds behind Danzel Waytan (19:51.706) and Delwin Co. Jr (19:52.02), who finished first and second, respectively, over 25 laps.

Showing precocious poise, the 17-year-old driver overcame a bent steering column in the opening qualifying heat and remained in contention in finishing 11th overall in the heat.

With tips from multi-titled champion and Resultado Racing head coach Milo Rivera and driver-coach Bern Corpino, Fuentes roared back in the second and third qualifying heats setting the fastest times to place fourth in both of them.

Buoyed by his improved performance, he set the second-fastest time during the warm-up session on Day 2, then expertly negotiated his way to fourth place in the pre-final, passing more experienced drivers like Miguel Quiñones, highlighted by the fastest lap time of a blistering 47.23 minutes.

Fuentes once again showed his maturity in the finals where he was slapped early with a five-second penalty for a dropped bumper, relegating him to No. 6 on the grid at the start of the race.

Shrugging off the early setback, the Resultado Racing go-karter patiently but steadily wove his way to the front of the field, zooming past Joshua Marquez, Quiñones, Gabriel Carag, and, finally, Kim Lagman, respectively, to achieve a well-earned podium finish.