For the first time in six years, at the 21st annual event held last November 25 to December 5, the Philippines again fielded teams in the annual Rainforest Challenge (RFC) Malaysia Grand Final. Remarkably, after the country’s long hiatus from the event, and with the grueling ten-day challenge imposing a punishing 40% attrition rate, all three Philippine teams were among the 24 finishers in a field of 40 starters.
| Car | Driver | Co-driver | Place |
| #108 | Larry Mendiola | Hirryan Mendiola | 9th finisher |
| #106 | John Sambo | Glen Buena | 20th finisher |
| #199 | Karen Pagquil | Maila Alivia | 24th finisher |
The newly returned Philippine teams had defined the middle and the last of the field of finishers, defying the odds with the last contingent of lady contenders finishing 24th and keeping attrition to that acceptable 40%.
First organized in 1997, event founder Luis A. G. Wee describes the RFC Grand Final as being the Asian region’s premier motorsport event, whether on pavement or off, and ranking among the world’s top ten races. Wee further describes the RFC as the premium, most unforgiving testing grounds off-roading gear. RFC Philippines point person Robby Consunji echoes the sentiment, adding that off-roading in general, when taken seriously, is a key survival and self-sufficiency discipline.
In any case, what had looked like the maverick decisions of sponsors like Deestone tires and Britparts outfitters to support a Philippine return to the meat-grinder that is RFC Malaysia, well, these now look to be paying rugged dividends.
<SOURCE> Press Statement by Fuel Autotek Philippines, “FUEL AUTOTEK PH Partners with Rain Forest Challenge Philippines 2017,” 2018:
Fuel Autotek Philippines, the authorized distributor of Deestone Tires in the Philippines in partnership with Rain Forest Challenge PH have collaborated to make the comeback of the Philippine Team into the Malaysian Grand Finals of RFC concluded last November 25 to December 5, 2017 into a reality.
Left to right: Kevin Buenaseda of Deestone Tires, RFC Founder Luis A. G. Wee, and RFC Philippines’ Robby Consunji
In this strategic partnership, Fuel Autotek PH provided the RFC Team’s support team with Deestone Mud Clawer tires which were fitted on 2 support crew vehicles (1 Land Rover Discovery & Land Rover Defender). The Support crews carried vital supplies, vehicle parts and necessities for the actual race vehicle while also traversing the Malaysian jungles leading to each special stage.
Fuel Autotek PH also provided tire technical training and assistance to the RFC Philippine Team both locally during the RFC Philippines Race held last August 25 – 28, 2017 at Pampanga and on ground in the Malaysian Grand Finals.
According to Kevin Buenaseda, Marketing Manager of Fuel Autotek PH, “We are pleased that we were able to participate in such a prestigious and globally renowned event to showcase the capability of our Deestone Mud Clawer Tire range. We are also proud and thrilled to share that the Deestone Mud Clawer R408 range performed exceptionally in the clay and rock riddled jungle trails of the Malaysian Rain Forest. Its aggressive tread pattern and side wall with integrated rock protector feature ensured that the support team had an advantage in all extreme conditions while in the competition.”
Currently Deestone Tires’ Mud Clawer range is available at all leading tire shops and tire dealers nationwide. The Deestone Mud Clawer M/T range is available from 15 inches to 20-inch rim / wheel diameter sizes which are applicable for SUV’s and Pick-up trucks who would like to have a better off-roading capability with aggressive and intimidating looks to match.
To know more are about Deestone Tires and our Mud Clawer Radial range, visit our facebook and Instagram pages at Deestone Tires PH, or visit our website at http://www.fuelautotek.ph/ !
Real World Drive 