Team Land Rover's Mendiolas revving up for RFC breakthru

MANILA, Philippines - Team Land Rover Philippines’ father and son drivers Larry and Hirryan Mendiola aim to hit paydirt in this year’s Rainforest Challenge (RFC) circuit after a runner-up finish in Malaysia in 2010.

“Our target is to win first overall this year,” multi-awarded off-road driver Larry said during a press conference yesterday.

Anticipating intense and fierce competitions this year, Larry and his co-driver/winchman Hirryan went through extensive training the last three months, devising new techniques and strategies.

“We’re taking a more analytical approach this year,” said Larry. “One thing we did is to move the winch to the back of the vehicle so it doesn’t get in the way of the bumper like it did last year when it was placed at the front.”

Team Land Rover Philippines will kick off its 2011 campaign in the third China International Rainforest Challenge, acknowledged as the world’s most renowned 4X4 event, on Aug. 18-24. More than 500 participants, teams, spectators and media from over 15 countries will take part in the event, also known as Summer RFC.

Last year, using a Land Rover Defender 90, the Mendiolas won two awards, finishing 16th overall amid the typhoon season in the remote Bao Ting Mountains in the outskirts of Sanya in Hainan Island.

The team later marked its strongest finish yet – a second overall – in the RFC of Malaysia 2010, one of the world’s longest and toughest 4x4 off-road extreme competitions.

“Year after year, the competition in the RFC has gotten tougher and stronger. For our team to place first runner-up and get awards from past RFC competitions is nothing short of a landmark victory and is hopefully a step towards getting the championship someday,” said Marc Soong, executive director of LRPhils Motors, Inc.

Expected to crowd Team Land Rover Philippines for the podium finish in China are rivals from Sarawak, Sabah, and Johor Bahru.

“My son and I learned more from each other last year in RFC. We know better what to do in the heat of the special stages and we shall do our very best to represent the country,” said Larry, who will once again drive the “Yellow Duck” Defender 90, a 3.9 liter V8 petrol-engined vehicle designed to withstand the rigors of the toughest off-road competitions.