Anton RP’s best bet in Taiwan auto grand prix

Multi-titled touring car racing champion Carlos Anton will represent the Philippines in the prestigious 2005 Taiwan Auto Gymkhana Grand Prix set Nov. 12-13 in Taipei City.

Anton was chosen by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) through Jun Espino to participate as RP’s official bets together with Slalom champion Noel Rivera in this Asian Zone event up against the top two drivers each from eight other participating Asian countries.

"It’s a real honor for me to represent the Philippines in this event. We did some practice with Noel last week and I am confident our team will do well in Taiwan. Hopefully, we’ll bring home the bacon," said Anton, who also won in an SCCA Autocross in Guam using a Subaru STI last May.

The other countries vying for honors in the FIA sanctioned event and organized by the Chinese Taipei Motor Sports Association are Singapore, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand and host Taiwan.

The event is similar to the race Anton won in Italy last year wherein 20 drivers from five nations competed in Alfa Romeo’s.

There will be two days of competition. One is for the individual championships in which the drivers have to go through five different stages and the total times will be added for the final scores.

The team championships on the second day will be a knockout system in which drivers from each country will go head to head while trying to advance to the finals.

Each team will be issued identical race cars sponsored by Hyundai.