Michelle, Asian karting’s top belle
The Philippine Star 12/29/2004
SENTUL, Indonesia–For the third straight year, Michelle Bumgarner of M&M Racing emerged the lone Filipino champion in the recently concluded 2004 Asian Zone Open Karting Championships at the Sentul Race track here.
Bumgarner, who’s backed by Samsung, Standard Insurance and Oakley, only wound up third in the championship race after spinning out with only three laps to go, but she already amassed enough points to capture the Formula-A Open crown in this annual karting series.
It was her first time to race in the Formula-A Open after clinching back-to-back crowns in the premiere Junior Intercontinental-A class in 2002 and 2003.
"I’m very proud to raise the country’s flag high once more in this prestigious Asian series. This is my Christmas gift for my country and my fellowmen who have been my inspiration in winning this crown," said the 16-year-old Bumgarner who will be feted by the Philippine Sportswriters Association with a citation in the annual awards night set Jan. 13 at the Holiday Inn Manila Pavilion.
Her rigorous training under former world karting champion Terry Fullerton and the new top-of-the-line Intrepid karts proved to be major factors in dominating the Asian karting scene this year despite big improvement of the Indonesians who are competing in the prestigious European championship this season.