Last Year's Winners Coming Back for the Impreza Challenge

MANILA, Philippines - The much awaited Manila leg of the Subaru Impreza Challenge will see the return of some of the top ten qualifiers last year including the 2009 Manila leg winner Apple Joy Balibado and the event’s first ever winner in 2008 Gerald Gonzaga. They will be joined by a number of other hopefuls all aiming for one of the ten slots that will represent the Philippines in the regional finals in Singapore where the winner will bring home the top prize – a brand new Subaru Impreza WRX. A total of 120 contestants are expected to compete in the Manila Leg of the Subaru Impreza Challenge happening on September 18 at the Eastwood Citywalk in Libis.

The Subaru Impreza Challenge is an endurance competition that requires all contestants to outlast each other with only their right palms firmly placed on an assigned position in the car. They are given a 5-minute break every six hours where they will be allowed to rest, eat, drink and go to the toilet. The last ten participants will represent the Philippines in the regional finals to be held in Singapore in October where they will have a chance to win the ultimate prize of a Subaru Impreza WRX 2.5 Turbo worth P1.728 million. In 2009, it took 77 hours and 43 minutes for 40-year old Mohamed Annuar of Singapore to take the grand prize beating 399 other challengers from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The 2009 Manila Leg winner Apple Joy Balibado was also the last Filipino representative standing in the regional finals setting a time of 57 hours. In 2008, Roberto Tomas outlasted his fellow Pinoys by standing for 62 hours and 53 minutes making it the Philippine record for the Impreza Challenge. Tomas has already signified his intention to join this year’s Manila Leg and, together with Apple Joy, will take their chance again in finally being the first Filipino winner of the Impreza WRX Turbo.

The event in Eastwood Citywalk promises to be a fun-filled and exciting treat for participants and visitors alike with official radio station and co-presentor 99.5 RT providing 24 hours of non-stop music and live coverage. Major sponsors Castrol, San Mig Coffee, Smokeys, OutBox and Red Rock Travel will also be present during the weekend event.

The newest vehicle models from Subaru will also be on display at Eastwood City. Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru will be offering special rates and discounts exclusively for the duration of the Impreza Challenge through its All Winning Deals (AWD) special offers with low down payment schemes, zero-interest plans and all-in packages.

The Manila qualifier event will be will be held at the Eastwood City Central Plaza on September 18 to 19 with more than a hundred challengers expected to participate. The registration for the Subaru Impreza Challenge is still on-going until September 18, 2010 at the Subaru Greenhills Showroom in EDSA. Interested participants must be at least 21 years old as of January 1, 2010, a Filipino passport holder and in good health condition. For more details on the event, interested participants can visit the website at www.imprezachallengemanila.com and its Facebook page of Impreza Challenge-Manila or call the Motor Image office at 727-8333 at 727-3687.