Moreno, Ortiz place 4th in Asian Gymkhana tilt
Team Philippines finished fourth overall in the second leg of the Asian Auto Gymkhana Competition (AAGC) held at the Raymond Drift Track in Mumbai, India, recently.
Filipino slalom champions Jevoy Moreno and Dion Ortiz were able to adopt to the right-hand drive (RHD), one-make Volkswagen Polo cars used in the two-day event, and landed fourth overall. The Indonesians topped the event.
“It was a great honor to represent the country in the AAGC,” said front-wheel drive slalom champion Moreno after the event. “In spite of many difficulties of driving RHD and all the delays in getting to India, taking fourth place was really hard work. We really enjoyed this last day and thank God for this huge achievement.”
The Indonesian team of Adrian Septianto and Herdiko Setyaputra shocked everyone by beating the highly favored Japanese team in the Team and Double Gymkhana competitions. The powerhouse duo of Japan’s legendary Gymkhana team made up of Tetsuya and Naoya Yamano put up a good fight but the young challengers from Indonesia denied them the top honors.
The team from host India finished third overall with their young drivers Achintya Mehrotra and Aabhishek Mishra. Considering the entire top three teams were used to RHD vehicles, the Philippine team showed its versatility by finishing fourth in the regional Gymkhana, promoted by FIA and the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India. Left-hand drive vehicles are used in the Philippines.
“Considering 90 percent of our fellow competitors were all used to RHD and no practice sessions allowed with the VW Polos, we had to learn to race them in such short while and give it our best. We were very lucky to be part of the podium in fourth place and we thank you for all the support and trust given by our fellow Filipino racers. We did it,” Moreno said.
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