MANILA, Philippines - Michael Cerin bucked the odds as he ruled the Colt 45 Philippine Tough Truck Challenge Year 11 at the Clark International Speedway in Clark Field, Pampanga recently.
Cerin, the top bet of Four-Wheelers Davao, set the best combined time of 21 minutes, 34.42 seconds to emerge overall champion of the event organized by the 199 OffRoad House.
Noel Bartolome Jr. of Land Cruiser Club of the Philipppines (LCCP), bagged the runner-up honors with a total time of 22:14.57 while Edison Dungca of Kapampangan Off-Roaders was third overall with 26:20.45 in the event presented by Colt 45, Racetech Suspensions and Maxxis Performance Tires.
Lone female entry Maila Avila of Isabela Extreme placed fourth overall (28:16.67) while Jojo Javier, also of Kapampangan Off-Roaders, wound up fifth (28:32.54).
In the elims, Cerin emerged the only racer among 20 qualifiers to breach the 14-minute barrier, turning in the best average time for Tracks A and B of 13:6.46 en route to victory in the event sponsored by Motolite, Motul, Optimax Brake Fluids, official timekeeper Casio Pro-Trek, Gerry’s Grill, 112 LC House, LCA Merchandising, Ironman 4x4, secondary sponsors RIDE, Warn, Procomp and Ironman Suspensions, and media partners Autoindustriya, Stoplight TV, Auto Extreme, Monster Radio 93.1 and Kotse.com.
Bartolome Jr inked the second best time (14:06.79) while Javier was third (17:01.23) followed by Dungca (17:52.78) and Avila (19:18.34).
But Track C turned muddier and more slippery due to heavy rains in the afternoon, making it tougher for the field during the climb as the topsoil got softer and swept by the downpour. Cerin only posted the fifth best time of 8:27.96 but it was enough to secure the victory.
Reynan Jayme of Waig Adventure Bukidnon, who started third, ran away with the best time of 7:13.52 in Track C with last year’s Off-Roader of the Year Bong Collado finishing second in 7:16.51.
Female driver Maila Avila, who started eighth in Track C, impressed the crowd as she survived the ordeal of the climb without using a winch and finished seventh in 8:58.43.