2026 PNRC opener set this month

MANILA:  The Philippine National Rally Championship (PNRC) is eyeing for a strong comeback this year as its opening round will take place in the island of Lubang in Occidental Mindoro.

Organized by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), the motorsport event will once again transform the roads of Lubang and Looc into a racetrack for Philippine rally racing.

The event’s kick-off round is scheduled on March 27-28.

To note, the said island already played host for the successful staging of the first-ever inter-island racing series there last year (then called Rally of Lubang).

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Overseeing the event (as well as supervising the conduct of the rally and its safety operations) are AAP Chief Executive Officer Mark Desales and its Motor Sport Committee Chairman Armando Eduque.

The 2026 PNRC’s opening round is being held with the support of the Lubang Mayor Michael Orayani, Looc Mayor Marlon dela Torre.

For this round, the competition will have 12 special stages that cover more than 90 kilometers. This combines day- and night-time runs across a mix of coastal roads, mountain sections, and rural routes.

To increase the level of challenge for its competitor, the event will be conducted as a blind rally. This means drivers and co-drivers will only rely on the official road book prepared by the organizers to navigate the course.

According to the organizers, more than 20 teams have signed up for the opening round— competing across multiple car classes that range from production-based vehicles to more heavily modified rally machines.

With the rally returning for a second year, organizers expect the Lubang round to once again showcase the excitement of Philippine rally racing while also drawing attention to the island’s growing role as a motorsports destination.

Further, they also encourage residents and visitors to watch the action as rally cars tackle the island’s roads during the two-day competition.

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