Now open for entries
30 teams are about to take on the task of crossing one of the most unchartered paths along the country’s Pacific coastline in an overlanding competition not for the faint-hearted. It is all part of the first 2022 Petron Philippine Overland Expedition (PHOX): Pacific Coast Challenge, to be held simultaneously with the 6th Philippine Overland Expo.
This very first staging is made possible by Mototesto Overland Equipment, in cooperation with Petron Philippines. Over P1,000,000.00 worth of prices are up for grabs.
The expedition happens from October 12 to 16, 2022. The expedition flag-off will take place at the Laus Group Event Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga, and participants will be traveling a 285-kilometer-long stretch that will end in General Nakar, Quezon. The teams shall garner points based on completion of quests across the trail, with 160 kilometers of asphalt road, and 120 kilometers of gravel, sand, mud, rocky paths, and river crossings.
The team with the highest score at the finish line will be declared as the country’s first ever Petron Philippine Overland Expedition Champion. Celebrating with the teams at the last stop are outdoor enthusiasts and spectators at the Overland Expo. Campers will be enjoying four-days and three-nights of nature adventure, with like-minded individuals that share the same passion and adrenaline for the extraordinary.
“The main goal of creating this event is to showcase the beauty of the Philippines, and strengthen the bond with our Mototesto customers, while fostering unforgettable experiences with them”, said Tim Tuazon, President and CEO of Mototesto, and also a hardcore overland enthusiast.
Mototesto has been part of the off-roading community since 2011, being the official distributor of Koni Suspension, MMOV, EcoFlow, Softopper, and many more. The move to partner with Petron Philippines is a collaboration that sees a long-term relationship between the oil company and the country’s growing 4x4 community, with its world-class quality products such as Petron Turbo Diesel, Diesel Max, and Rev-X. Motolite has also accepted the challenge to be a partner of the expedition. The country’s most-trusted battery brand will be providing free batteries to the competing vehicles and also offer big discounts to those participating.
“The Philippines has the perfect terrain and topography for overlanding, and Petron products are the perfect partners in fueling our intense passion for this lifestyle. Mototesto is honored to have them onboard in taking overlanding to the next level”, said Tuazon.
Hon. Eliseo R. Ruzol, Mayor of General Nakar expressed his appreciation at the press launch, as his municipality looks forward to the tourism opportunities the event will bring, helping to uplift the lives of his people through this event. Part of the Petron Philippine Overland Expedition’s CSR initiative is to donate excess proceeds that can potentially be up to P1,000,000.00 to different communities in General Nakar.
Now open for entries
Do you think you have what it takes to participate in this five-day challenge? Gather your friends and form a six-man-team composed of three 4x4 vehicles. Part of the requirements is that each vehicle must be a production variant retaining at least 80% of its original body and chassis structure, and must also have full recovery and river crossing capacity (this means, equipment such as winch and snorkels are required). Each team must also be self-reliant, bringing with them provisions such as food and water, including power sources, as well as critical vehicle spare parts and supplies that shall last them throughout the whole event. This expedition is set to test each team’s endurance, resilience, camaraderie, off-road driving abilities, and survival skills.
For those that simply we to meet like-minded car campers and overlanders, the 6th Philippine Overland Expo will be held simultaneously. Here, outdoor fans, spectators, families, and friends can gather and engage in a four-day camping experience. This campsite is also the final stop of the Overlanding Expedition, where the awarding ceremony will be held as the 30 teams complete their epic journey.
“We are expecting at least 300 vehicles this coming October, the merging of the two events will see the biggest gathering of overlanders and outdoor enthusiasts in the country, and we hope to show our nation that this extraordinary lifestyle is growing and will continue to rise in the years to come,” said Tuazon.
To find more information or register your interest, visit www.mototesto.com, and follow the Overland Philippines Facebook Page for real time updates.