Over 30 riders vie for honors in Zambales

MANILA, Philippines - Over 30 participants, led by defending champion Edison “Ton-ton” Dungca of Angeles City, will test their driving skills in tackling tough conditions in the two tracks put up for Gov. Jun Ebdane Offroad Challenge today and tomorrow in San Narciso, Zambales.

Dungca and company will try to prove their worth behind the wheels in the all-weather sand-and-mud tracks in Barangay Sindol, which have weathered the monsoon rains that devastated most of Luzon recently.  

The two-day event will also be highlighted by a first-of-a-kind demonstration on the use of 4x4 offroad vehicles for rescue and relief operations in times of disasters.

Dungca, who won in the 2011 inaugurals staged on a similarly demanding track in Barangay Carael, Botolan, is expected to face stiff challenges from offroad regulars and up-and-coming faces from the Pampanga Off-Roaders Club, San Jose Del Monte 4-Wheelers, Bicol Off-Roaders Club, Land Cruiser Club of the Philippines <http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=720323&amp;publicationsubcategoryid=69> , Santiago (Isabela) Extreme, Cauayan (Bulacan) Off-Road Club, Binangonan Rizal Off-Roaders, Suzuki Club, Ilocos Sur 4x4 Offroaders and Nueva Ecija Offroaders, among others.

Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane and son, Rep. Omar Ebdane, will flag off the event at 8 a.m. today. Competitions are expected to wrap up just before sundown, with the final runs slated tomorrow. Some P200,000 in cash prizes await the winners.

Late registrations are accepted before flag off, according to Eric Matibag, head of the organizing Zambales Sports and Youth Development Office. There will also be a separate category for Zambaleno drivers, who will take on the challenge of the tracks designed by members of the National Association of Filipino Off-Roaders.

Ebdane said the Offroad Challenge could become an annual activity and a staple attraction for Zambales’ rainy days sports tourism campaign.