De La Merced rules Hill Climb final round, Anton clinches title

JAN DE LA MERCED driving a Subaru WRX sent an ominous message to his rivals when he set the fastest time of the day during the third and final round of the 2007 Hill Climb Series, supported by Petron Xtra Unleaded—go for the extra miles, Stoplight TV, Manila Speedzone, Citgo Philippines, Zoobic Safari, Michelin Tires, Speedlab and BF Goodrich Tires, which was held on the road leading up to the Mount Samat National Shrine in Bataan on May 19.

De La Merced showed remarkable skill and confidence during his assault on the four-kilometer course wherein he posted a time of 2 minutes 46.66 seconds, which was beyond everyone else in the 36-strong field. His effort also won him top class honors in Group 3. Carlo Garcia in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, meanwhile, submitted a 2:48.22, which earned him a first runner-up finish in the group. Although his run was only good enough for third place, Carlos Anton driving a Mark Young-prepared Honda CRX registered a 2:52.49 to finish in third place, which was enough to secure him the National Hill Climb title.

In Group 2, it was Anton’s teammate Vin Santos in a Honda CRX, who took victory with a time of 2:52.74. Second place went to Edgesport’s Rikki Dy-Liacco and his Toyota Starlet 1.3 Turbo with a 2:57.94, while Petron’s Steve Acayan came in third with a 2:59.86.

Group 1 action saw Lance Binamira and his Toyota Corolla AE92 clinch his first win in the series with a 3:01.28. Second place went to Audel Sison in a Honda Civic with a 3:03.44, while third place was claimed by Lito Ignacio and his Mazda Miata MX-5 with a 3:07.29.