Bigger challenge in store for Macaraig

MANILA, Philippines - New team, new challenge.

Allen Macaraig, last year’s GT100 champion, wants to extend his dominance, this time in the GT130 of the 2013 Yokohama Philippine Grand Touring Car Championships’ opening leg at the Batangas Racing Circuit on Sunday.

The racing sophomore has also hooked up with a new squad – the Tough Gear Racing Team – the racing tradition of which he hopes, will rub off on him as he shoots for a second straight circuit-racing crown. Tough Gear boasts of champions in karting, motor racing and slalom.

Last season, Macaraig, who is backed by Maptan Pyrotech, Chic-Boy Batangas, Mac-Ber Octane Gasoline Station, Ginebra San Miguel, Bosch Automotive, Monster Energy Drink Philippines,Topgear Car Accessories, ALN Construction, HKS Super Oil and Atlas International Maritime Services, showed that he is one of the country’s brightest speedsters on the horizon after winning the GT100 crown right on his first year.

“That (2012) was huge year, considering it was my first competitive racing,” said Macaraig. “After a full season, I would like to believe that I have matured a lot, in terms of focus and drive for excellence.”

The Batangas City businessman, who is into construction, equipment rental and waste management, was actually a drag-racer and an off-roader before with the Balisong 4x4 Club, where he satisfied his competitive pang for racing.

“My desire for bigger challenges led me to circuit-racing, where the so-called ‘big boys’ of motorsports are. I just hope I can continue what I started,” said Macaraig, who was recently feted by both the Golden Wheel Foundation and the Automobile Association of the Philippines for his GT100 title conquest.