CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano motorsports enthusiasts will once again be treated to a heart-pounding showdown of speed and maneuvering skills as the second round of the Castrol Edge-backed Philippine Autocross Championship Series gets underway today at a specially-designed racetrack situated at the back of the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue reclamation area.
The two-day contest will begin with the practice session from 8 am to 5 pm today so the riders can familiarize the treacherous twists and turns of the race course. The race proper will be on Saturday.
“For several years now, it has been Castrol’s commitment to support all motorsports events. It is through this endeavor that we can show that we can be partner with motorsports enthuasiasts while at the same time promoting our product,” said Mark Laus of Castrol in a press conference yesterday at Baseline Restaurant.
Also gracing the affair were Neil Labrador of the Peak Summit Group and Jong Uy of The Racing Line.
“From Autocross Regional Championship during our first leg last January at Parkmall, we rename it this time to Philippine Autocross Championship Series since it is already a nationwide event,” said Uy. “This is an Arrive-and-Drive type of motorsports wherein we can encourage the beginners to join the race and fuel their desire and enthusiasm to compete as well as satisfy their craving for fun.”
The race is the second installment of a five-leg series. Each round, a driver will be awarded with points depending on his performance. The champion gets 10 points, the second placer 8, the third 6, while the fourth to eight finishers will earn 5,4, 3, 2 and 1 points, respectively.
The rider with the highest number of points at the end of the series will be declared as “Cebu Driver of the Year.” The winner will then challenge the best drivers from other parts of the country during the National Championship sometime this December in Manila.
As usual, a total of 15 categories will be contested. These include the Stock A, B and C, Modified A, B and C, Open B and C. The drivers are classified into novice and experienced. There will also be special classes for all-BMWs, Old Sports Cars, All-Wheel Drive, and Old School.
Among the top drivers to watch out for in the swashbuckling race presented by Castrol Edge in partnership with Smart, Dewfoam, Kartzone, Outlast, Federal High Performance Tyres, Carlito’s Pizza, Shago Racing, The Racing Line and Peak Summit Group are David G. Lim, Justin Neri, Randy Paray, Warren Go, and Philip Khan “Lik-Lik” Lim to name a few.
David Lim, acknowledged as the undisputed king of Cebu car racing circuit, hauled six titles during the inaugural leg including the fastest overall time award. Neri reigned supreme in the Novice Modified C and All-Euro classes, Paray topped the All-Wheel Drive, while Philip Lim posted twin victories in the Novice Stock A and B. – EBV (THE FREEMAN)