Slugs it out with the big boys and still gets second place
FOR TWELVE hours it was a criss-cross of race positions and a battle of strategy, but it was durability that ultimately took the win for GAC Motor repeats dominance at Kalayaan Cup 12-hr Endurance Challenge.
The GAC GA4 1.5 MT prepared and driven by a small but experienced crew was battling it out with the big boys, like the well-funded Mazda-sponsored team running a Miata, a more powerful sports car, as well as race veterans and teams.
“The competition was fierce and we drove up from and 11th place to second place. That’s like one place for every hour of racing. If you put that into strategy that meant the least number of pitstops except for the driver change,” lead driver Milo Rivera shares. “What clinched it for us is the durability of the car–the engine and transmission, the brakes, the suspension–performed flawlessly!”
Bannered by drivers Andre Tan, Milo Rivera, Kody Ng, Patrick Mendoza, and Brennan Lim, the GAC Motor Racing Team bagged the 2021 Kagitingan Cup 6-hour race Championship and the 2021 Kalayaan Cup 4-hour race Championship both in Open B Category, aside from earning runner-up honors in the premier 12-hour race. It missed the overall championship by nine laps but led race driver Mike Potenciano of Mark Young Racing Cars all the way to the finish.
The race was not open to the public due to pandemic restrictions, so viewing it on various streams on YouTube gave the idea of both the struggle and the conviction of the team to win. Moving from an 11th place start meant that the car had to keep on running except for driver and tire changes. And in the course of the race, the team had even prepared for brake pad changes, which was not needed.
The car’s engine and manual transmission were forced to perform at its peak, lap after lap, and has proven its worth on the race track by showcasing its powerful and world-class performance. The vehicle made it through the checkered flag after 12 hours without any mechanical issues and pitted only for refueling, tire, and driver changes.
“This proves the durability of the GA4 1.5MT. The car’s durability and the team’s hard work and dedication enabled us to overcome the challenges and managed to win 1st in our class, and 2nd overall champion. A huge thank you to the team for a job well done, and for helping us to reach this goal,” Brennan Lim, who second in the driver line-up at the race enthused. Lim is also branch head of GAC Motor Philippines, Metrowalk, Pasig.
The GAC team also bagged the 2021 Kagitingan Cup 6-hour race Championship and the 2021 Kalayaan Cup 4-hour race Championship Title both in Open B Category, all from that one GAC GA4 1.5 MT. When the team first participated in racing events two years ago when it considered an unwinnable, “trying very hard” marque. After winning in 2019, its detractors are now silent about the car’s capabilities.
“This year’s race has a lot of safety risks and challenges due to the pandemic. It’s a new car that we’ve raced in a 12-hour endurance challenge, so basically, it is a whole new experience for us,” Lim added.
GAC Motor Racing Team will return to Batangas Racing Circuit for the 2021 Bonifacio Cup 8-hour Endurance Race this November.
Two years ago, the team bagged four championships in the 2019 Kalayaan Cup 4-hour Endurance Championship (Manufacturer’s Class), the 2019 Kalayaan Cup 12-hour Endurance Championship (Manufacturer’s Class), the 2019 Bonifacio Cup 4-hour Endurance Championship (Manufacturer’s Class) and the 2019 Bonifacio Cup 4-hour Endurance Championship (Open Category).
