Team Land Rover finishes 2nd in tough Malaysia off-road

MANILA, Philippines - Team Land Rover Philippines turned in an impressive finish in the tough Rainforest Challenge with Hilario Mendiola and Sergio Jamila III placing second at the Sutera Mall in Johor Bahru, Malaysia last December.

Mendiola and Jamila bucked the challenge and bested all but one of the 38 teams to emerge runner-up in the above 3,000cc category.

“The stages were really tough we just got lucky aside from our ability to fight through difficult situations,” said Team Land Rover RP leader Robby Consunji in yesterday’s media briefing at the Land Rover showroom in Makati City.

Mendiola, as driver, and Jamila, as co-pilot finished eighth overall while Dennis Javier and JB Javier wound up 15th in the main event of the Rainforest Challenge considered as the Formula One of off-road racing.

The RP bets’ impressive finishes gained them “The Most Promising Team” award.

Backing the team’s Malaysian campaign were LRPHILS Motors, Inc., Formula Sports, Inc., Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Motolite, MAA General Assurance Phils., Superpro Poly Bushings, BBC Top Gear magazine, Warn Winch, Columbia Sportswear, Timberland Philippines and www.4x4ph.com.

The Rainforest Challenge is considered the toughest off-road challenge in the world and is annually held in the treacherous forests of Malaysia over a period of 10 days as man and machine test their limits under harsh racing conditions.

Land Rover has passed through different zones of weather and environment, thus underscoring its reliability as the top vehicle in the industry and the top choice by 4x4 enthusiasts the last six decades. – Joey Villar