Maxxis Tires Philippines and the National Association of Filipino Off-roaders (NASFOR) has wrapped up the Maxxis 4×4 Cup Philippine Tough Truck Challenge that took place at Porac, Pampanga last December 7, 2014. The finale saw the country’s best off-roaders besting each other to take home the competition’s top podium spot.
Led by Porac councilor Maynard Lapid, 31 participants from all over the Philippines were warmly welcomed by the local populace and off-road enthusiasts. Lapid and the Porac Off-Road Adventure Club (PORAC) developed the race track, mixing speedy areas and a technical rainforest section for a gruelling ride.
“We want Porac to be known as a destination for local and foreign off-road enthusiasts,” shares the young councilor.
In contrast to the previous leg held at the same track, off-roaders were greeted with a modified circuit designed by former Philippine driver for the Malaysia Rainforest Challenge Larry Mendiola and Alexis Von Beja, Maxxis 4×4 Cup Race Director for Visayas and Mindanao.
Competitors went through two different courses named track A and track B during the qualifiers, after which the top 20 fastest drivers duked it out for one final lap. The finale saw tracks A and B combined into one course with each driver allotted 20 minutes to finish the race.
The tough circuit saw the surrender of eight riders each from track A and track B.
Finishing ahead of the other drivers was Noel “JR” Bartolome of the Land Cruiser Club of the Philippines, followed by Kapampangan Racing Team’s (KRT) Omer Dungca, and 4Wheelers Davao’s Michael Cerin. They had an aggregated time of 19:29:91, 19:48:17, and 21:29:06, respectively.
Dungca is back-to-back Driver of the Year
Tonton Dungca of KRT was again awarded the Driver of the Year distinction, his second consecutive win, after accumulating 372 total points in all legs of the competition, followed by Red Diwa from Isabela Extreme with 290 points, and 2014 Tough Truck Champion Bartolome with 236 markers.
KRT was also named the 2014 Maxxis 4×4 Cup Team of the Year.
The 2014 Maxxis Cup Extreme Off-road Challenge is presented by Maxxis Tires Philippines, in association with the National Association of Filipino Off-roaders (NASFOR) who also acts as the event’s technical committee.
This event is also sponsored by 199 Off-Road House, with Mobil as the official lubricant sponsor, Toptul as the official precision tool sponsor, and Racetech Suspensions as the official performance suspension sponsor.