The 2023 Philippine Rallycross Series (PHRX) holding its first round on February 26, 2023 at Driftwoods Action Park. Before entering another exciting season of dirt racing action, the PHRX recognized the respective champions of its previous season.
The PHRX, a dirt time trial racing event that has been reviving rally racing in the country since 2015, had another successful season of racing in the books. Following the closing round of the series, PHRX awarded the Class Champions of its 2022 season.
After nine rounds of rallycross racing held at different dirt racing tracks located at Clark Global City, Driftwoods Action Park, and Sandbase, champions of the different classes have been awarded with their overall championship trophies.
Group 1, in which cars with displacement of 1300cc and below race, have been dominated by Noli Tinio. Now a back-to-back overall champion in the class, Tinio was joined on the Group 1 overall podium by Caloy Calica in second place and Teddy Galang in third.
Former slalom champion Peewee Mendiola was hailed as the Overall Champion in the Group 2 category. Paul Santos followed by Edsel De Dios completes the Group 2 2022 overall podium as second and third placers, respectively. As the Group 2 overall champion, Mendiola is also set to receive a Golden Wheel Award for Rallycross.
Meanwhile, seasoned race car driver Paul Santos won the Group 3 overall championship. Peewee Mendiola joined the podium in second place and Edsel De Dios in third. As the 2022 Group 3 overall champion, Santos will be receiving the AAP Driver of the Year Award for Rallycross.
Group 4, where rally cars of 2000cc displacement and below are allowed, was won by Paul Santos making him a multiple champion in the 2022 PHRX season. Joining him on the 2022 Group 4 podium was Peewee Mendiola with his second overall finish and Edsel De Dios in third place.
Last season’s Groups 2 & 3 champion Louie Camacho took home the 2022 Utility Vehicle (UV) Class championship using a factory-supported Isuzu D-Max. Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) had the UV Class podium in lock out as Camacho was joined by his teammates Mon Dimapilis, with his second overall finish, and Danny Urian in third place.
IPC again grabbed another 1-2 overall finish, this time, for the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) Class with Camacho winning the championship title and Dimapilis taking home second place. Paulo Santos completes the 2022 AWD Class overall podium with his third overall finish.
Experienced racer E.Z. Ligaya took home the overall championship trophy for the Rear-Wheel-Drive (RWD) Class of the season. The RWD overall podium placers by veteran off-roader Paulo Villarta in second place and Stephen Alunan in third place.
For the Open Class, 2019 Golden Wheel Driver of the Year Paulo Santos was awarded the overall champion for the Open Class. Santos, who won a championship in his first-ever full PHRX season, was followed by seasoned PHRX racer Arlan Reyes in second place and DJ De Guzman in third.
The Pick-up Class, a new category introduced at the start of this season, was championed by Louie Camacho making him a three-class champion for this season. Camacho’s teammates Mon Dimapilis and Danny Urian complete the class overall podium spots in second and third, respectively. Another driver from Team IPC was awarded champion in the form of Yvonne Linchangco who was awarded the 2022 Ladies Class Champion.
Now onto the next season, the first round of the 2023 Philippine Rallycross Series will be happening on February 26, 2023 at the Driftwoods Action Park in Indang, Cavite. Olson Camacho, Philippine Rallycross Series race director said that an exciting 2023 season awaits dirt racing fans.
The PHRX director also shared that full rally races will be infused to the dirt time trial series that is expected to make the upcoming championship more exciting. In 2018, the same people behind PHRX organized the country’s first-ever full dirt rally race in decades – the 2018 Philippine Rally held in Floridablanca and Lubao, Pampanga.
For more details about the Philippine Rallycross Series visit their official Facebook page – www.fb.com/Philippinerallycross.
