Impressive Subaru Impreza Challenge

CEBU, Philippines - Autocentral Inc. – Subaru Cebu played host to the first of four Philippine legs of the 2013 Subaru Impreza Challenge last August 10, 2013,.  The event was held at The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.  One hundred twenty hopefuls arrived at the venue early in the morning to participate in the official briefing and drawing of lots.  At 9:00 a.m., the contestants took their spots around three Subaru vehicles and placed their palms on the designated spots around each vehicle.

The Subaru Impreza Challenge requires the contestants to keep a hand on a position on the car pre-selected by a lucky draw. The contestant is eliminated if he or she lifts his hand off the car, whether deliberately or accidentally. Contestants are allowed a 5 minute break every 6 hours of the competition.  The last person to keep their palm on the car wins the local prize and the chance to compete against representatives from Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong later this year. The winner of the Asian competition gets to take home a brand-new Subaru Impreza 2.0i M/T worth P1.5 million.  The record for the challenge is 81 hours and 32 minutes held by George Lee of Singapore.

The Cebu leg witnessed a twist to the last person standing competition as the venue only allowed for the event to run until 10:00 p.m. of the same day.  So the organizers decided to up the ante by giving the contestants additional challenges like holding a bottle of water with their free hand while standing on one leg.  After only fifteen minutes, around twenty-seven contestants called it a day and lifted the palms off the cars.

The bright sunny weather proved to be the undoing of many as one by one they dropped out of the competition.  After eight gruelling hours, only eleven hopefuls remained.  At the ten hour, thirty-three minute and fifteen second mark, the second to the last challenger gave up and awarded the win to 25 year old Jobert Estrera.  Mr. Estrera took home P10,000.00 plus the chance to join the other Philippine leg winners in the grand finals in Singapore later this year.

The other Philippine legs will be in Davao (August 17), Pampanga (August 24) and Manila (September 7).  (KRL) (FREEMAN)