Ford: doing a lot for motorsports
Over the past few years, no other local auto manufacturer has done more to push motor sport in the country, especially touring car races, than Ford.
With full support from Ford, Tuason Racing School, held the Ford Lynx Cup annually for three years. It did not do much for the Lynx in terms of local sales, but it certainly helped bring in new blood into local touring car races.
With the unlamented Lynx replaced by the Ford Focus, this year Ford and TRS decided to hold the TRS Ford Cup MediaCelebrity Challenge for charity.
While the event looks more like part of a promotional campaign for the Ford Focus, it still pushes the cause of touring car racing and should continue to help bring new blood into touring car races.
Says TRS president JP Tuason, “We at TRS are excited about this new event which will give our celebrity and media friends a chance to show their skills in a real racing format. More importantly, it will also allow the public to see the new Ford Focus in action.”
During the first two legs of the Focus cup charity challenge members of media and celebrities got to compete head to head in rally cross type event on a gravel course at The Fort and tarmac time trials at the short course of the Batangas Racing Circuit using stock Ford Focus 1.6 sedans prepped by TRS for safety on gravel and tarmac racing.
By the way our friend Sister Brian Afuang of the Manila Times bested the media category on the dirt course while Sister Anjo Perez of the Manila Bulletin was the fastest on the tarmac.
Among celebrities, Ernie Lopez of ABS-CBN, TV host Cito Beltran, Paolo Paraiso and Issa Litton were the fastest drivers on the gravel track.
The top 10 drivers in both categories of the competition qualified for leg three and four of the charity event.
Leg three is more of a race clinic than actual competition. All qualifiers underwent the TRS basic racing lessons at the Subic international racetrack to prepare them for the final round to be held on the weekend of May 6 and 7 at the BRC as part of the side events of the opening leg of the 2006 Asian Formula 3 series.
Among those who who qualified for the final rounds of the Ford Focus Media-Celebrity Challenge for Charity were Louie Ysmael, Cito Beltran, Marc Leviste, Mike Toledo and Issa Litton in the Celebrity Division and Jinno Rufino of Hotwire, Ferman Lao of Top Gear, Giosi Mendoza of Stoplight TV, Matt Mallari of Motoring Today and Jude Morte of Business Mirror.
The Ford Focus’ reputation for being a sporty vehicle gains further credence with the testimonials of the competitions in the challenge for charity event.
Said Brian after making sure he would get the set of Goodyear Tires and other prizes for topping his category during leg 1 of the competition: “The TRS Focus makes a race car driver out of fumbling amateurs who think they are race car drivers. Perhaps it’s the paint job.”
Other testimonials were more straightforward.
Said Anjo: “It’s a great way for the media and celebrities to prove the capabilities of the Ford Focus and learn how to properly drive it on the circuit – through TRS. The Celebrity/Media cup is a great motorsport venue where the driving skills of the participants can be honed and proven.”
Said Ferman Lao, Kotse.com editor and Top Gear contributor: “I’m impressed on how balanced the Focus feels overall, particularly on how the car feels just right and not underpowered.
“I wonder how much better the larger engine variants would be with manual transmissions.”
Said restaurateur Louis Ysmael: “It was very enjoyable to drive the Focus both in dirt and gravel as well as tarmac surfaces and see how far you could push yourself and the car. It’s a fun car to drive. Like a toy. The organizers are very competent, the food is good and the participants are well taken care of.”
Said former press secretary Michael T. Toledo: “The event is very organized, very professional. They are helping Philippine Motorsports. The format was very good. My fellow competitors are established professionals in their respective fields and are capable drivers. The Focus’ body and style is beautiful. Performance and handling was very impressive.”
The Ford Focus should get a lot of good PR mileage from Ford Focus Cup Media-Celebrity Challenge for Charity and should help the cause of motor sports by drawing spectators to racing events.
But we hope Ford and TRS won’t stop there.
Ford – and other local auto manufacturers – should be helping get more fresh competitors in touring car races by encouraging more enthusiasts to race at club racing levels. Perhaps by sponsoring more one-make races if they’re wary of setting up works teams.
