GAC to join 2021 Kalayaan Cup endurance race

MANILA: GAC Motor Philippines will make its comeback in the local endurance racing scene with its participation in the upcoming Kalayaan Cup 12-hour Endurance Challenge in Clark International Speedway on June 12 and 13.

The GAC Motor Race Team, composed of Brennan S. Lim and Andre Tan, has dominated the motorsports scene in 2019. It was able to take home four championships including 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 4-hour Endurance Championship (Open Category).

For this year’s Kalayaan Cup, Lim and Tan will be joined by 2019 Philippine Autocross Championship Series overall champion Kody Ng, renowned racer Milo Rivera, and Patrick Mendoza.

In a statement, Lim said, “Joining motorsports events such as the endurance challenge will play a key role in boosting the presence of GAC Motor and building brand confidence in the Philippines. It will also enable us to showcase the performance and reliability of the brand’s vehicle lineup, especially the GA4.”

The GA4 1.5L MT is motivated by a 1.5-liter inline-four DCVVT Euro 5-compliant engine that generates a power output of 113hp and 136Nm of torque. For better handling, the vehicle comes with an L-type MacPherson front suspension that represses high-frequency vibration.

The Kalayaan Cup 12-hour Endurance Challenge is composed of two categories: the Makisig Class, a six-hour endurance race with two drivers; and the Matatag Class, a 12-hour endurance race with at least three drivers taking turns.

The 2020 edition of the endurance race series was canceled due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the community quarantine measures have eased, the GAC Motor Race Team is determined to participate in the 2021 Kalayaan Cup to take home the championship once again.

While a physical audience is not yet allowed, race fans may watch the livestream of the 2021 Kalayaan Cup 12-hour Endurance Challenge on the official Facebook page of Makabayan Cup Endurance Race Challenge Series.

Photos from GAC Motor Philippines

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