Libona, Bukidnon hosts 4x4 Tough Truck race
THE rugged town of Libona, Bukidnon plays host starting today to the 13th and last leg of the Philippine Tough Truck Challenge XVII at the Libona Central School grounds.
More than 40 4x4 off road racers will compete in the two-day road race sponsored by Maxxis Tires, Race Tech 4x4 suspensions, 199 Off Road House, AEG Powertools, The 4x4 Air Locker, FCC Trading, ProRcok Engineering, ARB and organised by National Association of Filipino Off Roaders (NAsFOR).
The Libona leg will determine who will win the Driver of the Year Award. “Two drivers are neck-toneck for the award with Noel Bartolome Jr. of the Land Cruiser Club of the Philippines leading the pack with 672 points,’’ said race director Alexis Baje.
Jherico Lara of Aurora
Racing team trails with 660 points with only 12 points separating him from Bartolome Jr.
Both need to win this race to assure a championship finish.
Year 2016 DOY awardee Jodax Daquil of 4 Whelers Davao is a distant third with 594 points. He needs to win this race and wish Bartolome and Lara falter to go up front.
NAsFOR president Ramon Toong also announced during the press conference that a team from Sabah Malaysia the Sabah 4-Wheel Drive Association is also joining the competition.
“This will be the first time in the 18-year history of the race that international competitors are joining the race. It will be difficult for them because they use right hand drive vehicles but they will be tough and very experienced,’’ he said.
The Malaysians expected to challenge the championship are 2015-2017 Rainforest Challenge Malaysia champion Cu Xi Chang and 2018 Borneo Safari first runner-up Yap Soon King.
Tough tuck racing is an exciting off-road racing event consisting of modified trucks going around a course filled with different jumps, bumps and turns.
The event is also supported by the Department of Tourism. Jack Biantan