MANILA – After two years of cancellation due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Tour de Cebu is making its return with its seventh edition from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3.
Considered as the country’s premier tropical classic car rally, vintage cars will be at the spotlight anew in the 1,000-kilometer festivity at the most scenic tourism hotspots in Visayas.
According to Michael Lhuillier, chairman of the Performance and Classics Enthusiasts (PACE) of Cebu, there were already 46 who have registered for the return of Tour de Cebu.
“We have some of the most beautiful tourism sites on the road and that’s what we’re trying to showcase to the world,” Lhuillier said in a press conference held at Manila Polo Club recently.
“We want to bring the country to the world map that the Philippines is a viable place for tourism, lifestyle and historic sporting events like this. It’s something to see, even just a portion of it. It’s a race and a car show at the same time,” he added.
The event will start with a mini-leg at the country’s longest bridge Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) before they make their way to the Province of Bohol, where the rally will do most of its runs.
The Tour de Cebu will cap its seventh edition on Oct. 3, with the participants set to make their way back to the Queen City of the South, the event organizer PACE announced.
Tour de Cebu is a regular rally that sees teams using their navigational skills to reach checkpoints in a pre-defined time. Penalty points are given to those who arrive too early or late at the said checkpoints. The winner will be the team with the lowest penalty score.
Tour de Cebu Champions will have their names engraved in the “Perpetual Chairman’s Cup.” The rally’s overall winner will befittingly receive a vintage watch, courtesy of one of Tour de Cebu’s sponsors.
“Tour de Cebu is a magical race. It’s about the scenes, the sunsets and the experience. It’ making the vintage car culture alive. It’s a race of a lifetime,” said Kenneth Cobonpue, who was also present in the presser.
Tour de Cebu is sponsored by Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6, Vintage Grail, BE Resort, NUSTAR Resort and Casino, FASTCAT, Johnny Air Cargo, 103.5 Retro Cebu, Nature Spring, Span Asia Carriers, ERUF, Cinco Automotive, Nice Day Carwash, and Toyota Team Cebu./PN
