Castrol Magnatec Series ends with world’s first night hill climb
The 2008 Castrol Magnatec Hill Climb Series wound up with a roaring finish—literally—on a two-kilometer course in Talisay, Batangas, where the world’s first nighttime hill climb was organized by the Hill Climb Club of the Philippines on May 25 to 26.
Defying the great chances of rain, the hotly contested fifth and sixth rounds, which were sponsored by Castrol Magnatec and supported by Speedlab, Eibach Springs, Hotwire @ Studio 23, San Miguel by the Bay, Wave 89.1 and Laeuna de Taal—a lakeside residential estate on a mountain ridge—saw 2007 National Hill Climb Champion Carlos Anton in his Honda CRX close out the 2008 season with an unprecedented sweep of the final two rounds (with times of 1:29.41 and 1:29.52, respectively) and the series, earning him his second national title. Putting up a gallant fight in the premier Group 4 were Jan de la Merced in a Subaru Impreza WRX, Danby Yaptinchay in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II and Anton’s yearlong adversary Carlo Garcia in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV, who had to content themselves with podium positions in both rounds.
Group 3 action saw Alfie Concepcion and Dennis Aoyong in Honda Civics swap the top two places in both rounds, while Dindo de Jesus in a Toyota Corolla and Tris Magbanua in a Mitsubishi Lancer picked up the spoils.
In Group 2, Lance Binamira and former rally co-driver Steve Acayan, both driving Toyota Corollas, engaged in a similar duel with the former taking round five and the latter taking round six, while Harvey Robles and Russell Rivera, both in Toyota Corollas, took turns in third place.
Peter Binamira in his Toyota Corolla topped round five of Group 1 despite completing only one heat, while Frankie Domingo in a Honda Jazz edged out BJ Abadilla in a Corolla for second place. In round six, Domingo drove away to first followed by Abadilla and Binamira.
After six rounds of fast-paced ascents all over Luzon, this year’s champions are Peter Binamira (Group 1 with 163 points); Lance Binamira (Group 2, 180); Dennis Aoyong (Group 3, 141.5); and Carlos Anton, who took Group 4 and overall honors.
For detailed results, visit www.hillclimbclub.com.
