ILOILO’S PRIDE IAN ROSALES IS AAP MSDP’S 3RD GYMKHANA NATIONAL CHAMPION
Breaking Metro Manila’s two-year winning streak, the Motor Sport Development Program (MSDP) Gymkhana had its first-ever national champion from Western Visayas. Ian Rosales of Iloilo bested over 21 finalists from Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Davao, Cebu, Metro Manila, and Zamboanga.
Cebu representative Dennis Corro came in second while Metro Manila’s new-blood VJ Bacungan finished third. After a year-long nationwide series, the finalists were champion drivers from the categories 1300 and below, 1301 – 1500, 1501 – 1800, 1801 – 2000 and 2001 and up.
The championship round commenced on November 10, 2019 at the Megatent, Quezon City, and followed a double-elimination format where finalists were paired off to record the fastest time. When only the top four remained, the racing course was changed to a more challenging layout.
“I’m just thankful for the experience,” Ian Rosales said when he was interviewed together with the other top four drivers. “We have no race tracks in Iloilo so MSDP has helped me a lot, even for circuit racing and other forms of competitive racing.”
During the heart-stopping final battle between Visayans Corro and Rosales, the Cebuano driver recorded a blazing 1:11.89 finish while the Ilonggo champion scored a record-breaking 1:11.06 run on the intensified racing course.
A day before the MSDP Gymkhana championship, Rosales made his Vios Racing Festival debut at Clark International Speedway where he finished 3rd place for the Toyota Team Cebu.
Rosales was the 2nd top qualifier for the National Gymkhana finals last year but was outperformed by Metro Manila’s Estefano Rivera, Davao’s Tenny Montuno, and Cebu’s Philip Lim, who won first, second, and third place respectively.
As the third Gykmhana National champion, Rosales is on his way to become one of the country’s handpicked drivers to represent the country at international races such as the Asia Auto
Gymkhana Competition (AAGC).
Meanwhile, the top six contenders will be invited later this year to compete in Mazda Philippines’ 8-hour endurance race as the AAP MSDP entry. Aside from the top three, the participating pool of drivers include Dodot
Montañer from Iligan, Bryco Maglasang from Cagayan de Oro, and Jahan Kalam from Metro Manila.
Now on its fifth year, the MSDP is a grassroots training platform made possible by the FIA Sport Grant Program. The MSDP Gymkhana was launched in 2016 as the competitive arm of the program where identical Mazda2 Skyactiv sedans are used as the official car.
“We were thrilled to have another set of inter-island podium finishers,” AAP Motor Sport Manager Ivan Isada said. “Kudos to Ian Rosales for a stellar performance! For me, these MSDP participants’ dedication to motor sport already makes each of them a winner.”
The MSDP is supported by Mazda, Petron, Time Attack Manila, Walter Light and Sounds, Aeromed Ambulance Transport, Clark International Speedway, and Batangas Racing Circuit.
To know the latest announcements, scheduled activities, and to register for the limited slots of MSDP sessions per location, visit the official Facebook page of the learning program at www.facebook.com/aapmotorsportdevelopmentprogram/.