Now in its ninth year, the Philippine Rallycross Series (PHRX) gets a boost from the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) to help increase the popularity of rallying in the country.
Since 2015, PHRX has been organizing rally and rallycross events as part of its thrust to bring back the beloved motorsport discipline of rallying in the local scene. AAP, as the local representative of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), is the national sporting authority in the country.
In the recently concluded Round three of the 2024 Philippine Rallycross Series held in Cavite, AAP Motorsports Committee Chairman Mandy Eduque graced the event showing support to the series.
Expressing his enthusiasm at the current state of the motorsport discipline in the country, Eduque remarked, “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.”
Subsequent to the event, the AAP and PHRX met and discussed the need for continued improvement of the conduct of events, the better promotion of rallying, among others. Present during the meeting were AAP President Joe Ferreria, Philippine Rallycross Series Race Organizer Olson Camacho, AAP Vice President David Arcenas, AAP Motorsports Chairman Mandy Eduque, AAP CEO Mark Desales and Head of AAP Motorsports Rikki Dy-Liacco.
To kick things off, the AAP will be hosting the fourth round of the 2024 PHRX happening on April 6, 2024 at the CCP Open Grounds. In commemoration of one of the Philippine motorsport pillars who dedicated himself to the sport from the 70’s up to his untimely demise, the round will be called “The Jun Espino Memorial Rallycross.” This special round will coincide with one of the most prestigious car exhibitions in the country, the 2024 Manila International Auto Show.
“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,” said AAP Motorsports Head Rikki Dy-Liacco.
Catch The Jun Espino Memorial Rallycross – an official round of the Philippine Rallycross Series at the CCP Open Grounds on April 6, 2024, Saturday. Visit the official Facebook page of the Philippine Rallycross Series and AAP Motorsport for more information.