Horrigan, Cojuangco dominate TRS Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Hotel executive Bobby Horrigan and former Rep. Charlie Cojuangco fashioned out convincing victories to share the spotlight in the second leg of the TRS Cup at Clark International Speedway in Clark Field, Pampanga recently.

Horrigan, one of the top drivers in the Philippine GT Series, used his experience to lead from start to finish in the first two races of the event powered by Ford Fiesta, Castrol and Bridgestone.

Other backers are Standard Insurance, Coke Zero, Hafele, Ford Alabang, Smart Bro and Smart Netphone as major sponsors and official time U-boat, official partners Oakley, Rota, OMP, Hastravel, Speedlab, Starbright Bodykits, Emotion, AAP, media Partners, C! Magazine, Manila Bulletin, Channel V, Stoplight TV, Turbozone, Kotse.com and 99.5RT, and event partners Manila Beer, Vector, Toptul and Lifeline Ambulance.

Cojuangco, who won two races in the first leg, foiled Horrigan’s sweep bid in the final race.

Horrigan had two runner-up finishes and one third place effort in the first leg for a share of the lead with Cojuangco.

Horrigan grabbed the lead early and turned in the fastest time of 2:32.770 in the fourth lap to pull ahead of the pack.

Wrapping up the race in 20 :23.058, Horrigan took Round 4 by 6.450 seconds over Cojuangco. 

German national Stefan Wolf of Team Hafele checked in third while Indian Manikandan CR of Team Ford Alabang and Ding Dizon of Team Coke Zero ended up fourth and fifth, respectively.

Horrigan again showed the way in Round 5, completing the eight-lap race in 20:28.712, 5.718 seconds ahead.

Wolf edged Cojuangco for runner-up honors by just 0.353 second while Manikandan and Basti Escalante of Team Smart Bro checked in fourth and fifth, respectively.

But Cojuangco fought back in the final race, coming up with a decisive move heading to the finish line to hack out the win in 20:30.705, just 0.842 of a second ahead of Horrigan.

Manikandan and Escalante, who started from the back due to the reverse grid order, worked their way up and finished third and fourth, respectively. while Guamanian Eric Choi of Team Smart Netphone wound up fifth.