Isuzu D-Max takes 2 championships titles in 2024 PHRX

MANILA: The Isuzu D-Max has secured the two championship titles in the 2024 Philippine Rallycross Series.

The Japanese automaker’s pick-up truck — driven by back-to-back Rally Driver of the Year Louie Camacho — was the champion in the UV and pick-up categories.

 Per Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), the latest victory once again demonstrated the model’s “superior performance, durability, and reliability on the challenging dirt tracks of the competition.”

Here are the Isuzu D-Max’s points at the end of the season under the two classes:

Pick-up Class	200
UV Class	186

Camacho, who took advantage of the Isuzu D-Max’s abilities for two consecutive seasons, praised the vehicle’s engineering and rugged performance.

“Me and my team are very much impressed with the performance of the Isuzu D-MAX, we have been using it for two straight years without having to go through any major repairs – it just shows how durable the engineering is, it can withstand harsh conditions and still give high-performance every time,” Camacho was quoted as saying.

Beyond leading the Isuzu D-Max to consecutive championships, Camacho also clinched the 2024 Rally Master Champion titles in both the Philippine Rallycross Series and the Philippine National Rally Championship.

For his part, IPC President Tetsuya Fujita lauded Camacho and the D-Max’s continued success in the motorsports arena.

"We are very proud of Louie and his achievements, and for bringing the Isuzu D-Max into the spotlight in Philippine motorsports. The D-Max is a formidable vehicle, and having an excellent driver who understands its capabilities is such a winning combination," he noted.

With the continuous domination of the Isuzu D-Max pick-up in motorsports, the company hinted that it may continue to support and participate in the series again this year.

Vehicle specifications

In bone stock form, the Isuzu D-Max is powered by either a 1.9-liter RZ4E-TC or a 3.0-liter 4JJ3-TCX Blue Power diesel mill.

These are what the engine can dish out:

Engine option	Maximum output (in horsepower)	Peak torque (in Newton-meters)
1.9-liter RZ4E-TC	147	350
3.0-liter 4JJ3-TCX	187	450

Below are some of its notable features:

• 800-millimeter water wading depth
• Auto tensioner
• Durable Chassis
• Smart Duo Camera
• Rear radars
• Forward collision warning
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function
• Turn assist
• Pedal misapplication mitigation
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Multi-collision braking
• Lane departure warning
• Automatic high beam
• Seven airbags
• ISOFIX tethers
• Anti-lock braking with electronic brakeforce distribution
• Remote control key with passive entry and start system
• Power-adjust seats

The Isuzu D-Max is currently offered in 12 options (single and double cab body types) — with prices ranging from P978,000 to P1.995 million.

Photos from Isuzu

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