It’s a great weekend to be a gear head. For two completely polarising reasons. One event is the slowest paced motoring event in the country today, the other the fastest. But both are equally exciting, as there’s a brand new car up for grabs for each.
First up, this Saturday at Bonifacio High Street is the Subaru Palm Challenge. This is an event that has been going on since 2008 in the Philippines and still draws a massive crowd of supporters. The idea is simple, but in practice it is anything but. Basically, you just place your palm on the car ( A Subaru Impreza) and keep it there for as long as you can. Last one to lift off keeps the car. Simple, right? Sure. But try explaining that to the thousands of hopefuls who cramped up and went home.
It’s the same principal as the running of the bulls in Pamplona. You don’t need to run faster than the bull; you just need to run faster than the other guy. Ok, that was a horrible example. But basically, you get the gist. Keep your hand on the car longer than the other guy and you win.
Tomorrow’s round however, will just be a qualifying round. The winners get an all expenses paid trip to Singapore with $300 spending money plus hotel accommodation they will never use. Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor for Subaru in the Philippines will send the top 10 finalists to represent the country in the regional finals, which is held annually at the front of Takashimaya Mall in Orchard Road, Singapore.
The event will begin at 9am and last up until approximately 10pm. As this is a 12-14 hour qualifying round, and the main event normally lasts over 80 hours, the event introduces a series of challenges to accelerate the result. Stuff like holding a bottle of water up in the air with one foot off the ground, or squatting with a balloon in between your legs.
It is always great fun to watch, and admission is of course free.
Sunday, however, changes gears and showcases the 3rd round of the highly anticipated Vios Cup. If you have never seen a Vios Cup event before, this is the one not to miss as it is the first time it will be held on the busy streets of the Mall of Asia.
48 cars will line up the purpose-built, 1.8km street circuit and battle it out wheel to wheel for a chance to be crowned the Vios Cup champion and win up to 150,000 pesos in cash and a new Vios! Never before has Philippine motorsport seen such a massive grid, and with all cars built and prepared equally, it becomes a driver challenge like we’ve never seen before.
Watch your favourite celebrities like Derek Ramsay, Jasmine Curtis Smith, Kylie Padilla, Phoemela Barranda, Jinno Rufino, Fabio Ide, Joyce Pring and of course the reigning champ that everyone is hunting down, Sam YG, duke it out in front of the thousands of spectators by the bay.
There will be 6 races in all, so there’s definitely plenty of action all afternoon. This will be followed by some entertainment throughout the night, including top bands and artists
“Last year, we brought the season-ending race to McKinley West (in Taguig City), where thousands of spectators witnessed how we staged waku-doki,” said TMP president Michinobu Sugata in a statement. “This weekend, it is only fitting that we bring back the biggest local racing event here in Metro Manila after a successful leg in the Queen City of the Philippines, Cebu.”
This year’s Toyota Vios Cup is made possible by Bridgestone Philippines, the official tire sponsor, providing each team with Potenza Adrenalin RE002 for the series, and Rota, the official wheels sponsor. The event is supported by Motul, TRD, Denso, Brembo, AVT, OMP and Tuason Racing.
