Anton Takes Fourth Straight Hill Climb Victory
2007 National Hill Climb Champion Carlos Anton took a giant step closer to what could be back-to-back titles when he comfortably set the best time of the day during the fourth round of the 2008 Hill Climb Series brought to you by Castrol Magnatec and supported by Wave 89.1, Hotwire Studio 23, San Miguel by the Bay, Eibach Springs, Speedlab and Zoobic Safari, held on April 26 in Barangay Diwa, Pilar, Bataan.
Following the 7 a.m. mass celebrated by Fr. Dennis of the San Isidro Parish in Pilar, Bataan, Anton and his trusty Honda CRX took to the tarmac and emerged as the fastest of over 30 drivers on the 4.2-kilometer course leading to the summit of historic Mount Samat with a time of two minutes 40.39 seconds (2:40.39), which also allowed him to top Group 4 ahead of his chief rival Carlo Garcia in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI (2:42.99) and last year’s Master of Mount Samat, Jan de la Merced in a Subaru Impreza WRX (2:48.25).
In Group 3, it was Vin Santos in a Honda CRX who ruled his category with a scorching 2:43.67. Dennis Aoyong and David Roxas, both driving Honda Civic 1800s, finished in second and third with times of 2:52.45 and 2:56.01, respectively.
Lance Binamira, meanwhile, continued his lordship over Group 2 when he stopped the clock with a 2:57.53 in his Toyota Corolla 1600. Former rally driver Steve Acayan and his Toyota Corolla 1600 took second place with a 3:03.89, while Imay Datu and his Honda Civic 1500 landed third with a 3:08.56.
Group 1 action saw BJ Abadilla and his Toyota Corolla 1600 take the top of the podium with a 3:22.66 ahead of second placer Frankie Domingo in a Honda Jazz 1300 (3:31.06) and Group 1 points leader Peter Binamira in a Toyota Corolla 1600, who took third place with a 3:32.38.
With his fourth consecutive overall win in the series organized by the Hill Climb Club of the Philippines and sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the Philippines, and made possible through the hospitality extended by Pilar Mayor Charlie Pizaro and Barangay Diwa Chairman Roberto Magsino, Anton now has virtually one hand on the champion’s trophy and is keenly looking forward to the fifth and sixth rounds which will be held next month.
