The teams, consisting of four members from different media groups, will be battling for the top slots in the 1.3 LXi and 1.5 EXi categories. Media groups represented are ABS-CBN News, Auto Review and Motoring Today for television, dzBB, dzEC, dzMM, dzRH and K-Lite for radio. Business World, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Associated Press, Gadgets Magazine, Metro and Sports Weekly represent the print publications, while Autoindustriya.com, Drive Online and Kotse.com represent the leading motoring websites.
The City Media Challenge is a dirt trial speed event, taking place on a specially-designed surfaced and unsurfaced track. Each round is run at least two heats, the minimum length per heat being 800 meters. No overall individual winner will be declared; instead the winner will be the team having accumulated the fastest time, counting only the best times of three participants from each team. Total points from each of the three rounds will determine the series winner.