Racelis bags back-to-back Karter of the Year honors

Racing prodigy Antonio “Anton” Racelis cemented his status as the country’s top young karter after securing his second consecutive T4 Junior Karter of the Year honors following a brilliant performance in the 2026 Tillotson T4 Junior Overall Championship at the Clark Speedway in Pampanga recently.

The 11-year-old rising star from Lipa City made a strong impact, clinching the division title by Round 8 of the nine-leg series to formalize his claim on his second Karter of the Year award, a special milestone that came at the heels of his MiniROK Expert Karter of the Year title last year.

Transitioning from MiniROK to the T4 Junior class this season, Racelis avoided the typical rookie transition period, dominating the domestic circuit with seven round victories and a first runner-up finish.

His domestic dominance earned him the top Filipino spot for the T4 Nations Cup at the Kartodromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero in Valencia, Spain. On the regional circuit, Racelis also claimed second runner-up honors in the inaugural Tillotson T4 Asia Cup.

Racelis’ championship run required overcoming multiple track obstacles throughout the campaign, including mechanical issues during time trials, collision delays, and recovery drives. In one notable race, he charged back from early incidents to win a photo-finish by 0.080 seconds.

“Setbacks do not decide the result; you can always fight back. I kept pushing, learned it session by session, and trusted my team,” said Racelis, who enjoys the all-out support by his parents, Anthony and Jimyleen, coach Rafael Perez of BRacing Development, Eng. Jose Leonzo Hernandez of Ototechnix, Stonyhurst Southville International School Malarayat, Clarc Feedmill Inc. and 422 Daily Park Café.

“My journey is not only about winning races. It is about learning, improving, and representing my family and my country with pride.”

Racelis will formally receive his T4 Junior Karter of the Year award at the Golden Wheel Awards in early 2027. The milestone follows his recognition at the 30th AAP Motorsport Awards last April for his 2025 MiniROK championship.

With another championship chapter closed, Racelis is already setting his sights on the horizon: pursuing advanced international competition and driver development.

His father, Anthony, said he and his wife are leaving no stone unturned in supporting the racing prodigy.

"My wife, Jimyleen, and I are committed to supporting Antonio every step of the way,” Anthony, a racing enthusiast, said.

“We always remind him to keep his eyes on the horizon, keep his hands steady on the wheel, and drive his own race. We are endlessly proud of him and always help him make it happen."