Do you want to get into motor sports? You’ve been training hard and dropping those times. You’ve got a high revving machine and a capable team behind you. Looks like you’re all set, except for one last trial by fire: running wheel-to-wheel with your competitors.

Racing, after all, isn’t just about time trials. Part of the challenge is battling your way to the top. Having a full grid of drivers with their eyes on the same prize won’t make it easy. It also ramps up the excitement several notches.

This is the only part of racing you might not experience with grassroots events, unless you’ve joined the Ford Focus Race of Champions (ROC).

Ford Group Philippines and Tuason Racing School (TRS) have made this integral step a part of its three-part race series that allows licensed, enthusiast drivers who are either Ford consumers, Ford dealership representatives or friends from the media to participate in autocross, slalom and wheel-to-wheel racing disciplines in separate events.

Their program, the 2009 Ford Focus ROC is their effort to give the public easier access to a full-fledged racing experience. Each leg combines instructional sessions and hands-on drive exercises before actual race heats to give even amateur participants a chance to enjoy what racing is all about.

In this final round, the top six teams, composed of two drivers each, battled throughout the previous legs to gain a spot in this wheel-to-wheel round at Subic International Raceway, last Nov. 7.

Yet the tests continue to come. In true racing format, drivers still have to qualify to earn a place and prove themselves worthy of wheel-to-wheel action. Only the top eight competitors will move on to the next round. Those eight will be divided into two groups of four that will race side-by- side for six laps.
Of course, those that don’t make it will still be awarded points for their qualifying times, to be added with their teammates’. Once the checkered flag flies, points will be awarded according to place and added up to determine the overall winning team.

The vehicle of choice is a full fledged race car in the form of TRS’s Ford Focus TDCi. It’s been stripped down, lightly modified and fitted with safety measures up to Philippine National Touring Car Championship specifications to give participants a real racing experience.

They couldn’t have picked a better day for racing, either, as the sun was shining high, the skies were clear and the cars were raring to go. Most of the morning was spent for practice laps on track, giving drivers a full and continuous 20 minutes of seat time each in the car. After a hearty lunch, the qualifying began.

Once all the times were tabulated, the top eight were determined, and before many could catch their breath, the first round of wheel-to-wheel racing began.

Mike Potenciano of Speed TV and Turbo Time quickly widened the gap and went on to take the checkered flag. He was followed by Christopher Kho of Uno Magazine in second and Aris Ilagan and Iñigo Roces of Manila Bulletin in third and fourth respectively.

Alvin Ng of Auto Review may have had the second fastest time, but a punctured tire on the last lap brought him down to fourth. This moved up first time racer Rocky Marte of Speed TV to third and Beeboy Bargas of Topgear Magazine to second. Mikko David of Uno overtook Alvin in the early part of the race to take the flag.

Once the fervor of their teammates settled, the participants were led to Lighthouse Marina to relive the day’s events over a buffet and some lively conversation. It was only halted by the announcement of the official list winners. Taking the trophy was the team of Mikko David and Christopher Kho with 17 points. Mike Potenciano and Rocky Marte of Speed TV took second overall. Finally, Jeff Reyes and Aris Ilagan broke the three-way tie for third place with Aris’ faster qualifying time.

With that, the 2009 Ford Focus Race of Champions was brought to an exciting and nail biting end. There couldn’t be more reason to look forward to the next year’s edition.