Belgian drivers outsmart local bets in Petron Rally

Belgian drivers Martin Quartier and Peter Desmet lived up to their lofty billing in the Petron Rally Pilipinas as the guest racers jumped the gun on the locals by wrestling the top two spots in the first leg of country’s biggest racing event over the weekend at the vast Subic Remifield parking lot.

Aided by his trusted navigator Nico Artois, Quartier cranked up an impressive time of one hour, four minutes and 50 seconds clocking (1:04.50) to grab the top position in the initial leg of the two-day event sponsored by Petron Corporation and Petron Blaze in cooperation with Honda Cars Phils., the official car; SBMA, DOT; Pagcor, Automobile Association of the Phils., Yokohama Tires and Roadwise Motoring School.

Desmet and co-driver Franky Beel, on the other hand, finished the 10-stage, first leg in 1:05.28 followed by local hero Vip Isada and co-driver Robbie Hermoso (1:12.22), Felix Marinas and Charlie Cruz (1:12.34), Carlo Gutang and Choy Mabunay (1:12.58).

Rounding out the top 10 of the Activity Asia Association—organized event were the tandems of Art Guevarra-Ivan Isada (1:14.24), Anthony Halili-Rene Casibang (1:15.21), Kenneth Dominado-Egay Ortiz Luis (1:16.20), Alex Perez-Bryan Chanco (1:16.54) and the Ramon Santiago-Bing Ibaviosa pair (1:18.02).

Desmet and co-driver Beel are Belgium’s 1997 Group N champion while Quartier and Artois hold the distinction as 1999 Group I national champions of Belgium. The two pairs carry racing colors Speedzone.