Anton continues his winning ways in Hill Climb series

2007 National Hill Climb Champion Carlos Anton made good use of his knowledge of local conditions to rule Rounds Two and Three of the 2008 Hill Climb Series brought to you by Castrol Magnatec in partnership by Wave 89.1, Hotwire Studio 23, San Miguel by the Bay, Eibach Springs, Speedlab and Prince Plaza Hotel, held in Itogon, Benguet on March 29 to 30, respectively.

The event, which was made possible by DOT Regional Director Purification S. Molintas, Benguet Visitors’ Bureau Executive Director Gregory K. Loy, DPWH project engineer Benjamin A. Bautista, DPWH district engineer Alexander C. Castañeda, Benguet Governor Nestor B. Fongwan, Itogon Mayor Mario Godio, Loacan Punong Barangay Aniceto J. Canuto, PCI Richard Bantas Albon, DOTC Regional Director Atty. Federico Mandapat Jr., and DPWH Regional Director Mariano Alquiza, Spectrum Communications, Inc. and organized by the Hill Climb Club of the Philippines in support of the Hub of Hope free daycare and breast milk bank, drew 57 entries—29 of whom represented Baguio City—over the two days and produced exciting moments as the drivers and their cars sped through an average altitude change of 275 meters and negotiated four kilometers of twisting and turning tarmac.

In Round Two, Anton in a Honda CRX posted the only sub-three-minute time (2:59.28) to place first overall and in Group 4. Trailing him for group honors was Carlo Garcia in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI with a time of 3:07.02, while third place went to Jem Querimit in a Lancer Evo IX with a time of 3:12.98.

Vin Santos in a Honda CRX topped Group 3 with a time of 3:04.61. Onchie Mercado in a Honda Civic placed second with a 3:10.79 followed by Marc Thomann also in a Civic with a time of 3:14.10.

Imay Datu in his Civic posted a 3:22.81 to take first in Group 2 despite a hairy off-road excursion during his second that put him out of action for the rest of the day. Second place went to Lance Binamira and his Toyota Corolla (3:28.06), followed by Steve Acayan in another Corolla (3:29.95).

Peter Binamira in a Corolla topped Group 1 with a 3:52.65. Second in class went to Gary Cating in a Toyota Echo (3:59.45), while Frankie Domingo took third in a Hyundai Getz (4:12.21).

Round Three served as another brilliant display of driving from Anton, who clocked a 3:00.48 on the course to take Group 4 and overall victory. Garcia (3:05.27) and Querimit (3:10.01) had to content themselves with second and third, respectively.

Group 3 was again Santos’ territory with a time of 3:04.56. He was followed in second place by Garry Loy in a Civic (3:16.04) and Mario Dipasupil in another Civic (3:18.18) in third.

Group 2 saw a reversal in order as Acayan’s 3:26.33 was better than Lance Binamira’s 3:28.06. Third went to Dominic Acosta, who tripped the stopwatch at 3:40.69 in a Civic.

Top Group 1 honors went to BJ Abadilla in a Corolla (3:47.24), while Riel del Rosario and his Lancer (3:53.36) and Cating (3:56.75) finished second and third, respectively.

In the Historic Class, it was an all Volkswagen Beetle podium as Mark Quinto (4:00.67), Ronnie Manalo (4:14.90) and Eko Adan (4:27.92) closed out the top three.

Following his third victory in three rounds, Anton now leads the Group 4 standings with 90 points, followed by Garcia with 67.5 and Danby Yaptinchay with 44. Santos, meanwhile has a comfortable lead in Group 3 with 90 points followed by Dennis Aoyong with 39 and Garry Loy with 38.5. In Group 2, Lance Binamira (72.5) has a slim margin over Steve Acayan (66), while Imay Datu is in third with 55. Group 1 still has Peter Binamira at the head of the order with 75, followed by Gary Cating (48) and BJ Abadilla (30). In the Historic Class, its Quinto (30) in first followed by Manalo (22.5) and Adan (18).

The next two rounds of the 2008 Hill Climb Series sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the Philippines is scheduled for April 26 and 27 in Zambales.