The current tagline of the MG 5 sedan is “Big In Features, Big in Comfort,” which is a testament to the car’s impressive exterior dimensions, roomy interior, and driver and passenger features that make it a punch-up in its segment. But after an impressive showing at the recent Bonifacio 8-Hour Endurance Challenge held at the Clark International Speedway, including “Big in Performance” to the existing MG 5 tagline is in order.
In the hands of professional Meta-coach and amateur racer Marc Soong, professional driving coach and champion Allan Uy, and gallerist/champion racer Gaby Dela Merced (with race management by Billy Billano of Partspro,) the MG 5 was transformed into a true racing machine, channeling MG’s rich racing heritage into an inspired performance during the grueling, rain-soaked endurance challenge.
When asked to share his observations about the car, Allan Uy says: “I expected the handling to be good since this British car is known to have excellent handling. The MG 5 doesn’t oversteer at challenging turns on the track. Reliability was another thing I felt sure of with the MG 5. It is also lightweight & well-balanced compared to other cars in its category.”
The MG 5 raced in the Manufacturer’s Class (stock car, no modifications) and came in first as the category’s sole participant. More impressive, though, is its top-10 finish (8th place overall) as it remained competitive with a pack of 22 other cars of varied modification and enhancement, over a very intense 8-hours of straight racing. This points to the MG 5’s durability, as Gaby Dela Merced says: “Usually you’d feel the wear and tear mid race, especially since this was an 8 hour endurance challenge. Imagine pushing the car to the limit the whole time. How it rode from the start was the same all throughout. No changes in feel, brakes were the same from start to finish, the tranny kept its tip-top form. That’s something that rarely happens.”
In the same line of thought, Marc Soong adds: As a stock car, it surprised us all with its reliability and performance. The MG 5 really held up to the abuse of driving on a racetrack, and it was surprisingly quick.”
“First and foremost, the MG Philippines family would like to congratulate each and every member of the team on a positive and impressive finish at the Bonifacio 8-Hour Endurance Challenge. The achievement is a pure demonstration of your teamwork, skill, and ability to adjust given the inclement weather and the unpredictable race conditions,” says Atty. Alberto B. Arcilla, President and CEO of MG Philippines. “We are happy to know that the MG 5 has lived up to and surpassed your expectations in terms of performance, which is something that all our MG 5 owners can likewise attest to.”