The local motor sport community was back under one roof again during the Automobile Association Philippines’ 26th Annual Motor Sport Awards Night at the Manila International Auto Show on April 8, 2022, after a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are here to honor tonight your achievements in 2019 and 2021. There is obviously an empty space between the two years corresponding to when motor sport in our country was halted by the worst tragedy we have experienced in our lifetime,” said AAP Motor Sport Chairman Armando Eduque.
In 2020, AAP had constantly met with government authorities, medical advisers, the Philippine Red Cross, the Department of Health, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, Philippine Olympic Committee and many advisers to help restart motor sport events once again when pandemic restrictions were easing, according to AAP Motor Sport Manager Ivan Isada.
“The success of the Return to Motor Sport is not an effort alone by the AAP, but a collaborative unity with all the organizers that followed and worked towards bringing motor sport back,” Isada said.
Eduque also expressed his appreciation to the motor sport community for their “good citizenship and full cooperation with the government” during the pandemic period.
To kickstart the motor sport season, Eduque shared that the task of AAP is to help organizers and competitors ramp up motor sport activities to pre-pandemic levels and beyond while still maintaining vigilance due to the ongoing pandemic.
He asked the organizers to assist in this effort by publishing their schedules of events, using traditional and new media, to increase public awareness and attract more competitors to the sport.
The Motor Sport Chair also announced that AAP’s Motor Sport Development Program (MSDP) was back in full swing. MSDP Head Instructor Coach Vip Isada with his team will be taking the program this year to Iloilo, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Davao, Cebu, Batangas, Dagupan, Clark and Manila.
“With your help and of those our competitors and organizers who have waited patiently over the past two years to get back on the track once again, we are optimistic and look forward to the return of motor sports big time in 2022,” Eduque said in closing.
AAP 26TH MOTOR SPORT AWARDS WINNERS
Driver of the Year – Digital Motorsport: Lance Guballa
National Digital Rally Championship: Lance Guballa
Driver of the Year – Karting: Al Miguel Joseph Quiñones
National Karting Series – Mini ROK Class Champion: Mariano Axel Nocom
National Karting Series:Al Miguel Joseph Quiñones
Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup Festival Overall Champion: Estefano Rivera
Giti Formula V1 Pro Class: Daniel Miranda
Philippine Grand Touring Championship – GT100 Class Champion: Marky Young
Philippine Grand Touring Champion – GT150 Class Champion: Russ Agapito
Posthumous Award:
Rene “Jay” Rivera
Raphael “Paeng” Nodalo
AAP 25TH MOTOR SPORT AWARDS WINNERS
Driver of the Year – Slalom: Estefano Rivera
Driver of the Year – Karting: Bianca Bustamante
Driver of the Year – Drag: Arvin Millet
Driver of the Year – Rallycross: Olson Louie Camacho
Marshall of the Year: Danilo Antivo
Marshall of the Year – Slalom: Felipe Paniza, Sr.
MSDP National Gymkhana Champion: Ian Rosales
First Step Racing Cup
3rd Place: Alan Palacios
2nd Place: Ian Rosales
1st Place: Seven Aleman
Vios Racing Festival Overall Champion: Red Diwa
Philippine Grand Touring Championship
GT100 Class Champion: Drew Manio
GT150 Class Champion: Justin Neri
GT200 Class Champion: Paolo Santos
Giti Formula V1 Challenge – Pro Class Champion: Estefano Rivera
National Drifting Championship – Champion: Norman Agojo
AAP Hall of Fame: Reynaldo Espino Jr.
National Slalom Series
Novice Class Champion: Rod Chang
Front Wheel Class Champion: Estefano Rivera
Rear Wheel Class Champion: Joseph Ortega
Overall Class Champion: Estefano Rivera
National Karting Series
Mini ROK Class Champion: Miguel Judd Angeles
Junior Class Champion: Al Miguel Joseph Quiñones
Senior Class Champion: Bianca Bustamante
Asian Karting Open Championship – Mini ROK Class Champion: William Go
Plaque of Appreciation – Asian Auto Gymkhana Championship
Mark Bernales
Hazel Ramirez
Estefano Rivera
Emilio Medarlo Rivera
Gabie Desales
Jevoy Moreno
Plaque of Appreciation – Malaysia Speed Festival Racing Series: Dexter Rei Daquigan
Plaque of Appreciation – TCR Asia Series: Daniel Miranda
Plaque of Appreciation – Thailand Super Series TA2 Asia: Don Thomas Pastor
Plaque of Appreciation – Thailand Super Series TA2 Asia: Gabrielle Dela Merced
Plaque of Appreciation – Audi R8 LMS Cup: Vicente Floirendo
Plaque of Appreciation – IAME Asia Series: William Go
Plaque of Appreciation – FIA Academy Trophy: Zachary David
Plaque of Appreciation – IAME European Series: Eduardo Coseteng, Jr.
Plaque of Appreciation – Lawrence Rally: Jong King
Plaque of Appreciation – F4 Asia: John Dizon
Posthumous Award
Angelito Dulce
Rene Mapua
Fred Marasigan
Emmanuel Cruz
Pastor Boy Saycon
Ramy Diez
MAIN PHOTO: 2019 Awardees (L-R): Driver of the Year-Slalom Estefano Rivera, Driver of the Year-Karting Bianca Bustamante, Driver of the Year – Rallycross Olson Louie Camacho, MSDP National Gymkhana Champion and First Step Racing Cup 2nd Placer Ian Rosales, First Step Racing 3rd Placer Alan Palacios and First Step Racing Champion Seven Aleman.
