Ayrton Atienza clinches overall title in the MiniROK XCS
Clark Speedway—The rain came down hard in Pampanga, bringing with it a new set of challenges for young karter Ayrton Kreig Gono Atienza of the JVL/Autoplus Racing Team at the MiniROK XCS Category Round 5-6 at Clark International Speedway.
Running on slick tires while his rivals opted for wets during practice, the 11-year-old prodigy wrestled with the drenched track and slid to the bottom of the timesheets with a 1:12.295 lap.
For most kids his age, it would have been enough to shake the confidence. But Ayrton isn’t most kids. Named after the late, great Ayrton Senna of Formula One racing, he brushed off the setback as part of his “Master Plan.” Instead of sulking over the setback, he quietly shifted his focus to Sunday—the only time that really matters.
From the back to the front row
It all began with two crucial qualifying heats—the races that would shape the grid for the final. In Qualifying Heat One, Ayrton launched like a rocket off the line, leaping to seventh by the first corner after slicing past two rivals. From there, it was smooth, steady progress as he carved his way through the pack, ultimately crossing the line in a strong third with a 53.293 lap. Not a win, but a result that would prove pivotal for the showdown ahead.
The Qualifying Heat Two saw the same composure and precision. No reckless dives, no wasted moves—just measured overtakes, corner by corner. By the checkered flag, Ayrton had secured fifth with a 53.398, another consistent finish that kept his championship hopes alive and his confidence building.
A statement win
Then came the final. Ayrton lined up fourth on the grid, and in that moment, he realized he had a genuine shot. Ten laps. Enough, he thought, to turn this race into his. When the lights went out, Matteo Caceres of C&C Motorsports rocketed off the line, snatching the lead from Vincent Ardina of DRQ Motorsports. Ayrton wasted no time—lunging past Antonio Racelis to steal third in the opening corners. The rookie was immediately in the mix.
By lap six, the fight at the front turned fierce. Caceres and Ardina tangled for position, and Ayrton seized the opening, diving into the lead. But the real threat was still to come. In his mirrors now loomed Antonio Racelis of Bracing Team and Jayden Javier of JGM Racing—two hardened rivals, both with more laps, more experience, and more to prove.
What followed was pure grit. Ayrton defended like a veteran, shutting every door, covering every inside line, forcing his rivals to try the long way around. Corner by corner, lap by lap, the rookie absorbed the pressure and refused to crack. This wasn’t just speed anymore—it was resilience, strategy, and sheer will to win.
When the flag dropped, it wasn’t just Ayrton’s arms raised in victory—it was a message to the entire paddock. His winning time of 10:29.553, with a fastest lap of 1:01.643, sealed more than a race win. It was proof that a kid who had started the weekend at the back could finish it by schooling the experts.
“I asked God for guidance when I was struggling,” Ayrton said afterward, his voice still carrying the adrenaline. “I didn’t want to be nervous. I told my mom I hoped it wouldn’t rain again like it did in time trial. But deep down, I already had a plan. I studied the data, imagined every scenario… I carried it all in my head.”
Teamwork in the shadows
Like any great racing story, this victory wasn’t about one driver alone. Behind the boy stood a crew who believed in him—and whom he trusted completely. Head mechanic Junior Capuyan and coach John Dizon had dialed in a setup that demanded nothing less than courage. Ayrton delivered.
For Carlos Gono, Autoplus Sports head and proud grandfather, the race was more than a win—it was a sign of maturity. “Ayrton is more focused now, more in tune with the behavior of his kart,” Gono said. “He can control it better and handle the pressure of competition.”
And just a few meters away, his father, Marco Atienza, watched every lap with a pride no stopwatch could ever measure.
A birthday like no other
The timing couldn’t have been sweeter. Ayrton’s triumph came as the ultimate birthday gift. While most kids his age were blowing out candles, he was taking the checkered flag—giving himself not just a victory, but a glimpse of the driver he’s destined to become.
For now, Ayrton is still the boy with the big dream. But on that rain-soaked weekend in Clark, he stepped out of the shadows of potential and into the spotlight as a name worth remembering, like his legendary namesake. –Torque&Power/MBI
