PHRX gets boost from AAP to further promote rallying

MANILA: Organizers of the Philippine Rallycross Series (PHRX) have recently received a boost from the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) to help raise the popularity of rallying locally.

During the third round of the 2024 PHRX in Cavite, AAP Motorsports Committee Chairman Jose Armando Eduque showed support to the discipline by gracing the event.

“I was extremely impressed because when I asked how many competitors were in that round, there were 53. Even in the heydays of rallying in the 80s and 90s we never got an entry list of 53. I was gratified. If we have that number of entries in an event today, then, rallying is definitely back,” Eduque was quoted as saying.

After the event, executives from the AAP and PHRX discussed the need for continued improvement of the conduct of events, the better promotion of rallying, among others.

Present at the said meeting were AAP’s President Joe Ferreria, Vice President David Arcenas, Eduque, AAP Chief Executive Officer Mark Desales and Head of AAP Motorsports Rikki Dy-Liacco as well as PHRX Race Organizer Olson Camacho.

To note, PHRX has been organizing rally and rallycross events since 2015 as part of its efforts to regain the popularity of rallying in the local scene. AAP — the local representative of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) — is the national sporting authority in the country.

Special leg on April 6

Relatedly, the AAP shall host the fourth round of the 2024 PHRX. Set on April 6 at the open grounds of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. To commemorate one of the pillars of Philippine motorsport who dedicated himself to the sport from the 1970’s up until he was laid to rest, the round will be called “The Jun Espino Memorial Rallycross.”

The special round will coincide with the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2024 — considered as one of the much-awaited motoring events in the country for the year.

“The bigger exposure of hosting the event right across one of the venues of the 2024 MIAS will help promote rallying to a bigger audience of car enthusiasts. We are pleased to present this official round of the Philippine Rallycross Series as well as honored to have it in memory of Jun Espino,” Dy-Liacco said.

Photos from Philippine Rallycross Series

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