4x4 challenge under way in Iba

MANILA, Philippines - Thirty of the country’s cream of the crop of off-road racing are in Iba, Zambales for the two-day third Gov. Jun Ebdane 4X4 Challenge, which serves as the first leg of the National Association of Filipino Offroaders series that would determine the 2013 4x4 Driver of the Year.

Engr. Jun Rundstedt Ebdane, representing his father, Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane, flagged off yesterday morning the race being staged on two difficult and technical courses.

 â€œThis signifies that our province is now being recognized as ideal venues for sports tourism events, as the governor has been aiming for under his administration,” said Ebdane, the governor’s youngest son, during the opening ceremonies.

The racers from 11 provinces and offroader organizations put their driving skills to the test on the courses that feature eight-foot ruts, 15-foot 45-degree mounds, figure-8 turns and three- to four-foot wide trenches. 

 â€œThis is the most difficult track we have seen in the three years we have been hosting 4X4 offroad races,” said Eric Matibag, head of the Zambales Sports and Youth Development Office.

The Iba event is the first of 12 legs on the association’s 2013 circuit. The other legs are set in Davao, Cagayan, Dumaguete, Camarines Sur and Pampanga.