24-hr endurance drive roster swells to 400

MANILA, Philippines - Almost 400 drivers and riders have registered for next year’s biggest motorsports event, the Cannonball 1000, a 24-hour endurance drive traversing a scenic North Luzon loop for a single day.

Organizers, led by six-time endurance champion Joey Almeda, are expecting 500 participants, including those from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, USA, Switzerland and other European countries.

Fil Oil Energy Company, Flying V and the Paragon Group of Companies are the major sponsors of the unique motorsports adventure slated Jan. 9 with the fellowship night for the participants to be held at the Urdaneta Village Club House on Jan. 2 from 6 p.m.

Also backed by Granstar Motors, KTM, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa, MV Augusta, Ducati, BMW, Mazda, Jeep, Harley-Davidson and Petron, the Cannonball 1000 is an endurance drive covering a Luzon route of over 1,000 kilometers under a time limit of only 24 hours.

Interested drivers and riders may register at 0919-6100588 (Smart) or 0927-3607309 (Globe) and website at www.cannonballclubph.com. Other details can also be found at the event’s Facebook account.

Additional celebrities that recently registered to participate are motorcycle riders Jordan Herrera, Eric Fructuoso, Kristopher Peralta, Robert Ortega, Jr., Gary Estrada, Mike Gayoso and four others.

Other participants are TV host Danby Henares, actors Richard Gutierrez and Dominic Ochoa, actresses Diana Zubiri and Jackie Rice, chef Andrew Lopez, host/model Andy Smith, circuit racers Gaby dela Merced, Renan and Erika Morales, Team Thunderbugs from Bacolod City and Miata Club of the Philippines.

The field will pass through towns of Baloc, Ilagan, Tuguegarao, Aparri, Pagudpud, Laoag, Vigan, La Union, Baguio and Tarlac before coming full circle in Clark.

The 24-hour endurance drive 1000 is open to all cars and motorcycles with displacements of 301cc and above. The field will begin their day-long journey from the Widus Hotel and Casino in Clark Pampanga on the night of Jan. 9.