Aguilar on top, will try to stay there

Havoline Racing Team skipper Oscar Aguilar won back-to-back titles in Subic and Batangas last season in an amazing show of brilliance that catapulted his name up there with circuit-racing’s best.

Now comes the harder part–staying on top.

Aguilar embarks on a bigger challenge when he plunges into action, together with another Havoline veteran Nilo Pazcoguin (using a Hatchback Civic EK body), in the premier N1 event of the 2004 PCSO Grand Prix on Sunday at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Maligaya, Rosario, Batangas.

Another Havoline standout–Subic champion and three-time driver of the year Jody Coseteng, elected to skip the Batangas races due to the ongoing repairs being made on his racing car.

After ruling the Junior Touring event in runaway fashion last year, Aguilar has gone a notch higher in search of more racing honors for his Havoline team, which is powered by Vortex Gold and supported by Rota Wheels, Brembo Brakes, Hyper Parts, Gatorz Eyewear, Gaspeed, Kolor Craft, Auto Trend, DZ Racing race and performance and Atoy Body Kits.

In Aguilar’s place in the NJTC division of the Grand Prix is Dr. Peewee Mendiola, one of his primary back-ups during his Subic SVI Challenge title run. With Aguilar elevated a rung higher, Havoline officials believe this is Mendiola’s year to finally come into his own and pull off that breakthrough victory.

"Havoline had one of its finest campaigns last season and we’re hoping to at least duplicate the success in 2004, if not surpass it," said Havoline team and product manager Paul Familara. "Credit of course goes not only to the team’s natural skills and passion for excellence, but to the Havoline synthetic oil that the team uses. Rain or shine, this is a constant that has been a part of Havoline’s winning tradition."