The grand Magellan ballroom at Quest Hotel Clark was home for Giti’s international family last November 15 as Northern Automax Intersales, Inc.–the exclusive Philippine distributor of the Singapore-based brand–held Giti’s Enjoy Driving international gathering and formally launched their full range of Passenger Car Radials in the country.

Giti Tires Executive Director for International Marketing and Sales Chris Bloor, Giti Tires European Testing Operations Manager Martin Gibson, and Robert Franklin for International Sales and Marketing graced the stage alongside Northern Automax Intersales Inc. VP for Sales and Marketing, Mannix Ocampo, as they energized the 230 assembled distributors and media guests with Giti’s exciting plans to become an industry leader in the tire world.

Bloor reiterated that Giti needs the continued, strong support of their distribution partners to succeed in that goal and they’re also doing their part by not only innovating with their products, but also constantly creating new ways for Giti to directly reach their customers.

The night ended with guests’ hand-written messages to Giti being flashed on screen and the positive mood showed everyone believed in Bloor’s toast speech: “The future is yellow!”

Do you need new tires soon and are interested in trying out Giti? Here’s a guide to figure out which is perfect for your ride.

GitiControl Series: for high-end and luxury cars

Available in 17-20” sizing for premium vehicles, the ultra-high performance GitiControl 288 and SUV880 tires combine great looks, high-speed performance, and a quiet ride for owners who want the best for their luxury sedans and SUV’s.

Giti’s motorsports experience was used to develop a racing-inspired tire compound while AdvanZtech Precision Handling technology gives the GitiControl a unique construction that locks together when the driving situation demands traction, yet does not give up handling and tire wear performance.

GitiComfort Series: for both large and compact cars

The 16-18” GitiComfort F22 and its 17-19” F50 stablemate are for large passenger car and SUV’s drivers respectively and feature AdvanZtech Noise-Reduction alongside brand-new silicon-oriented technology and mixing methods. The latter advancements by Giti reduce tire heat and rolling resistance, boosting fuel economy as well as giving the F22 and F50 improved wet driving dynamics.

The GitiComfort T20 comes in 12-16” sizing for small passenger cars and provides outstanding mileage and strong double-layer steel belt construction. AdvanZtech Silent Tire Technology uses advanced computer modeling to give the T20 an optimized tread pattern that also minimizes driving noise to go with its longevity and great value.

Giti4x4 Series: off-road, on-road, or a perfect mix for your SUV

A rapidly growing segment in the country, Giti4x4’s premium AT70 tire comes in 15-18” diameters and is an attractive, aggressive, and durable choice for off-roading vehicles. AdvanZtech Extra Durable Technology is used in the tank-inspired construction and works in tandem with the tread’s higher natural rubber content to provide the AT70 excellent resiliency on the trail.

For a mixture of tarmac and off-road use, the Giti4x4 AT100’s wedge pattern design with an S-shaped central rib provides a good compromise between on-road traction and mud-wrestling capabilities.

And for eating up the highway miles in the comfort of your SUV, the HT152 offers excellent fuel economy with enhanced wet grip thanks to the addition of functional resin and water-dispersing white carbon black in its construction.

GitiRunflat Series: for extra safety and convenience

For those who desire extra peace of mind during out-of-town and extended drives, the Giti 288 RunFlat and P80 RunFlat tires let you drive at a maximum speed of 80km/h for up to 80 kilometers even after complete air loss.

An inner support ring provides rigidity in case of a puncture, while optimized materials are used to ensure riding comfort is not compromised. As an added bonus, RunFlats let you eliminate the need for a spare tire, freeing up space for the things that matter most to you instead.

GitiSport Series: for the ultimate in performance

The battle-tested GitiSport GTR3RR1 is an extreme performance tire and is proudly worn by every car in the country’s top tier of motorsport and first-ever homegrown formula series, the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge. The 16-19” tires are street legal for drivers who want a highly-capable tire they can sportily drive on the street and take straight onto the track.

Three bold circumferential grooves give the tire great water evacuation ability, while the large center ribs they enclose ensure maximum surface area for traction and breaking. A strong shoulder with the GTR3RR1’s distinct triangular grooves regulate the tire’s shape at high-speed and provide better stability and response when you need it.

The GitiSport S1 has been developed for sports cars and exotics but also the new wave of high-performance compact SUV’s and features similar optimization in its straight center grooves for excellent water drainage alongside a highly responsive tread pattern.

Northern Automax Intersales, Inc., the exclusive Philippine distributor of Giti Tires, cemented their mark in the tire industry with the launch of their full passenger car radial tires line up and hosted an international summit participated in by the Giti Tires family network, press and media personalities from Latin America, Africa, Middle East and all over Asia.

Giti Tires is a Singapore head-quartered brand with five (5) R&D, and Testing centers spread out in Germany, USA, China, Indonesia, and the UK that are continually innovating and improving designs for passenger cars and truck tires in their eight manufacturing plants around the world.

In the Philippines, Giti Tires is one of the most prominent imported and distributed brands. Northern Automax Group has been the local arm of Giti Tires since the early 1990s and has over 600 dealers nationwide. “We take great pride in every tire product we sell and attest to its outstanding workmanship. We will continue to be committed in serving the Filipino motorists with a wide range of tire products of superior quality and performance delivering total value.” Stated by Alromanof “Mannix” Ocampo, Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Northern Automax Intersales, Inc.

Giti Tires produces over 100 million tires a year and has more than US$ 3.2 Billion annual revenue globally. They have been very active in motorsports with the sponsorship of the Philippines’ Giti- Formula V1 Challenge, the Formula 3 Asian Championships, Asia Formula Renault, China Prototype Endurance Race, Macau Grand Prix Lotus Cup, and Dakar Desert Rally in Peru.

The tire manufacturer also fielded the first-ever all-female endurance team to mark their third consecutive year of competing in the prestigious 24 Hours Nürburgring.

The brand was also present as one of the major sponsors of the recently concluded 46th Berlin Marathon, one of the world’s biggest marathon races with over one million spectators and 62,000 participants.

This momentous event brought together Giti’s key partners in their push to provide superior quality products and become the global market leader in the tire industry.

The highlight of the gathering was the on-track session at Clark International Speedway, where the exciting Giti Sport lineup was laid out for partners and media to experience firsthand. The testing took took place in both wet and dry conditions, and media guests even had the exciting opportunity to try out Giti’s motorsports offerings in an actual Formula V1 car from the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge!

During the press conference, Giti Tires Executive Director for International Marketing and Sales Chris Bloor, Giti Tires European Testing Center Martin Gibson and Robert Franklin for International Sales and Marketing joined Ocampo to reiterate the extensive, dynamic research and development behind each tire produced.

One of Formula V1’s main goals is to develop local drivers into Filipino Global Racing Champions and this season will see our champion Estefano Rivera of the Toyota Otis Obengers travel to Suzuka Circuit to challenge Japan’s best Formula V1 and Vita drivers!

While Rivera’s championship season is also his formula-racing debut, he had already claimed multiple titles to his name before moving to the highest tier of the Philippine motorsport ladder.

Starting in his early teens, Rivera showed great promise in karting and it peaked with a sweep of the major karting awards in 2012, he took AAP’s Karter of the Year, International Junior Karter of the Year, KF3 Champion, and the ROK Junior Champion crown.

Rivera moved up to the Vios Cup’s top Super Sporting class under Team Obengers and finished runner-up in 2016, and third in 2018. He also kept busy by making the National Slalom Championship his own with five titles to his name, often with his very own brother, Milo Rivera, as his fiercest competitor.

After moving up to Formula V1, Rivera never missed out on the podium all season, and impressively reeled off four straight race wins to chase down the championship.

ROUND 1 at Batangas Racing Circuit

A relatively slow start for the Obengers driver in Batangas as progressed up the podium spots over the weekend as the competitors on the grid sized each other up.
Race 1: 3rd
Race 2: 2nd
Race 3: 1st

ROUND 2 at Clark International Speedway

With Cleanfuel’s Ryo Yamada threatening to create a sizable points gap, Rivera defended against the Japanese driver’s tenacious efforts to win Race 5 and begin his streak. After exchanging the lead several times, Rivera showed how hungry he was for the title as he executed a gutsy pass once the rain started falling to clinch Race 6.
Race 4: 2nd
Race 5: 1st
Race 6: 1st

ROUND 3 at Clark International Speedway

With a single point separating him from the top in Round 3, Rivera produced a heart-stopping drive in the season highlight Race 8–which had Rivera and Yamada crossing the line side-by-side. That finish finally lifted him over his rival and assured a points win if he finished no less than second in Race 9. And the young driver did a professional job of taking the car home in the final race of the season!
Race 7: 1st
Race 8: 1st
Race 9: 2nd

Having proved himself against the best of the country and showing excellent skill in wheel-to-wheel racing, Rivera is definitely ready to level up once more and head to Suzuka this December 7!

The Giti-Formula V1 Challenge is presented by Phoenix Pulse Technology and Tuason Racing. Sponsored by Giti Tires Philippines, West Racing Cars, OMP, AEG Powertools, Phoenix Accelerate, Rota Wheels, Oakley, Eurasia, FamilyMart, and Don Papa Rhum.

Media partners: Autoindustriya, Autocar, Wheelsph, Jamesdeakin.com, C!Magazine, and ESPN 5

The Growl-Thule Racing Team had a hectic 2019 as they competed in two series simultaneously: the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge’s Pro Class and the Vios Circuit Championship’s flagship Sporting Class. The team’s hard work was rewarded with two overall wins to their name–and both Jussi Hoikka and Red Diwa’s successful campaigns played out in similar circumstances during a very competitive season of racing!

Jussi Hoikka’s Road to Third in Formula V1

ROUND 1
The AM Class champion of the homegrown formula series’ 2018 debut, Jussi Hoikka’s move into the Pro Class was met with some growing pains from his car. During Round 1 in May, an epic overnight effort was required from the team to repair his V1’s transmission and steering issues. The all-nighter paid off as the Growl-Thule driver took home a best result of third in Race 3–marking his arrival into the highest tier of racing in the country. “Wow, this weekend has been intense but this race was the most intense wheel-to-wheel I’ve ever had I think…and the closest racing and greatest fun I’ve had!”

ROUND 2
A dramatic mid-season encounter that saw rain fall for the final race of the weekend also saw the points table truly take shape. The overall championship leaders were separated by a single point after Round 2, while Jussi was locked in a three-way battle for third with Raymond Ronquillo and Stefan Ramirez. The podium eluded the Finnish driver in July, the closest he got was during a very tight Race 5 battle with Raymond Ronquillo. The drivers swapped positions several times with his Frontrow rival just edging him out to third place.

ROUND 3
The stakes were high in October and the opening Race 7 featured a multiple-car crash right off the starting line as the contenders were going truly all-out. Luckily, Jussi avoided the chaos and drove a clean race into an important third place. With no mathematical winner yet after the following Race 8, the Race 9 finale would decide who claimed third in the overall championship. Jussi fought hard for several laps versus Stefan Ramirez but the Ensport driver managed to make the pass on the very last lap to get third place. However, Jussi had done over the season to claim the title by one point, 106 to 105.

The Growl-Thule driver’s consistency and constant points finishes throughout the season were the crucial difference versus Ramirez and Ronquillo’s DNF’s and penalties.

“The 2019 season saw lots of exciting and very close racing–especially with my fellow contenders for the overall third place such as Stefan Ramirez, Raymond Ronquillo and Paolo Mantolino. Finding the ideal setup for each race and focusing on consistency was indeed our entire team’s main focus. Big thanks to the dedicated mechanics of PartsPro Racing and coach Edgen Dy-Liacco of Edgesport for this result!”

Red Diwa Secures the Vios Circuit Championship

Immediately after his Formula V1 debut for OTR Racing in the AM Class, Growl-Thule announced that Red Diwa would be returning to Toyata’s one-make series under their team banner. A veteran of 2018’s Sporting Class, the format change and removal of the Super Sporting bracket meant Red would be competing in the fastest tier of Vios racing.

ROUND 1
June’s season opener saw Red place 3rd, 2nd, and 4th in the first three races of the Sporting Class. The weekend saw no less than seven drivers finishing in the top spots–a sharing of points that blew the season wide-open extremely early on!

ROUND 2
The mid-season race usually sees dramatic battles in the rain, and Round 2 in August did not disappoint. Red claimed 1st in the dry weekend opener, before being out-paced by Eggy Ong in a rain-soaked Race 6. The second-place finish behind the Toyota San Fernando driver meant Growl-Thule’s driver was sitting six points behind Ong who moved into the championship lead.

ROUND 3
Coming into the final round of the Vios Circuit Championship in November with the 2019 Formula V1 AM Class crown to his name, Red could only manage third in Race 7. However, Ong finished in a lowly eighth place which drastically cut his points lead. Ong struck back by finishing fourth over Red’s fifth in Race 8 which meant everything was on the line for the final grid of the season.

During Race 9, it looked like Red weakly yielded first to a rampaging John Dizon–who had passed five cars in the process–but he later revealed it was his goal to simply take the car home safely as a second place finish was enough to secure him the overall win.

“Last year I won 4 out of 9 races–but I still lost the championship because I was not consistent. Winning is just one race and not the same as winning the whole series yet. So this season what I did is work on my consistency. Never mind if I don’t win always–I’ve only won once–but I’m still challenging for the championship.”

Consistency Wins Championships

Both Growl-Thule drivers proved that consistency is the key during a full race season. While driving as hard as possible to climb up another place is always tempting for any racer, Jussi and Red’s experience has taught them that finishing a position down, securing the points, and going for steady overall progress in the table is smarter than eliminating yourself while going flat out.

And with how Jussi went from AM Class champ to Pro Class and overall third-place in V1, and Red getting a double trophy season–it’s a story of steady progress for Growl-Racing Team as a whole too. 2020 can’t come soon enough for them!

Growl Corporation is one of the largest developers and distributors of first-class OEM in-dash Audio, Video and Navigation (AVN) systems. Our product, the Growl Audio Head Unit is customized for different car models.

Thule Sport & Cargo Systems, on the other hand, is exclusively distributed by Tow & Stow Industries, Inc. They are an importer, distributor, and manufacturer of vehicle towing products such as hitch receivers (TOTALHITCH™ brand), trailers (TOTALTRAILERS™ brand) and accessories.

In the motorsports world, endurance races are often regarded as the ultimate test of both man and machine, and Phoenix Pulse has just revealed its drivers who have been hard at work preparing themselves for the Ultra 4-Hour Endurance Race at the Clark International Speedway on November 16.

Patrichk Dela Rosa, the 19-year old Philippine GT Driver of the Year in 2016/2017 and Phoenix Young Driver’s Program finalist, finally gets his chance to step up the ladder and compete behind the wheel of the Formula V1. Coming from a touring car background, Patrichk looks forward to driving the country’s first homegrown formula car and believes it is more than suitable for an endurance event. “It’s hassle-free when it comes to pit lane jobs, and I also guarantee we’ll complete more laps versus other cars because it’s extremely lightweight and the engine is very reliable.”

His first team mate in getting those laps is none other than Phoenix Young Driver, and the team’s current Formula V1 AM Class driver, Raffy Rabe. Raffy is eager to test his skill in a format very different from his past experiences in the quick Flat Out Race Series and Touge Battle events and even the regular Formula V1 season. “The endurance race focuses more on strategy. We can’t just blast off driving like it’s a normal race. Pacing is very important to keep the car running throughout the four hours so we have to strategize and coordinate as a team.”

At 15 years of age, Tara Laconico is the third finalist of the YDP search and the youngest driver of the team. Despite her junior status, she already holds an FIA/AAP Junior International Karting License and has also recently qualified for the Sodi World Finals in Venice–a high-point in her young career. Tara’s eager to show what she can do in a bigger vehicle, sharing that “I’ve had a few testings and it’s a very special experience–it’s as if it’s in the middle of being a professional one-seater race car and a go kart. It’s the perfect transition from karting, the main difference is the shifting and that’s something I’ll adapt to!”

Finally, another veteran racer and very familiar face joins the team as celebrity racer and Phoenix endorser Rhian Ramos returns to action! A pioneer driver in the first-ever Vios Cup, Rhian has also joined other competitions since then and recently placed 1st runner up in the Expert B Class of the 2015 Philminiracers series. Being a true enthusiast, she looks forward to the analog nature of the competition car. “It’s a fun car to drive because it takes you back to basics. No power steering and you have to be heavy on the brakes. For the same reasons, it will be a challenging endurance car and I imagine my arms and legs getting tired after the first twenty minutes!”

With a mix of Patrich Dela Rosa’s confidence, Raffy Rabe’s seasoned experience, Tara Laconico’s rookie talent, and Rhian Ramos’ driving enthusiasm, Phoenix PULSE has assembled a lineup that is not only skilled but features a balanced mix of driving personalities. Each racer’s unique mindset will definitely come into play during their hour-long stints, and give the Phoenix team an excellent shot at the prize.

See you all on November 16 for the Tuason Racing Raceday featuring the Ultra 4-Hour Endurance Race and the Phoenix PULSE Supercars Trackday!

After a successful return last year, the Tuason Racing Raceday alongside the the Ultra 4 Endurance Challenge kicks off once again, from 8AM-5PM on November 16, 2019 at Clark International Speedway!

Organized by Tuason Racing, the longest-running and premier motorsports organizer in the country, the festival will be a coming together of automotive enthusiasts and racers.

The Supercars Trackday presented by Phoenix Pulse, will have 40 exotic vehicles unleashing their potential on track and providing eye-candy for spectators.

The Ultra 4 Endurance race will feature the champions and contenders of the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge in a new test of skill. Twelve teams of three will be taking part in the event: Team Obengers, Phoenix PULSE, TRS, Giti Racing, Frontrow, Fourth Floor Racing, Growl-Thule, Partspro, One Formula Racing, and Cleanfuel with two entries. Will the drivers be able to keep up with the country’s first-ever homegrown formula racer for the entire grueling race?

The festival also includes two more audience attractions: the Kiddie Road Safety Park to teach young attendees about basic road rules and safety tips as well as the OMP Virtual Challenge for those who want to experience how a true racer practices off-track. Finally, lots of specially discounted products and prizes from our sponsors will be up for grabs!

It’s a very successful season for Red Diwa! The Growl-Thule driver (and current Giti-Formula V1 Challenge AM Class champion) managed to reel in Eggy Ong’s six-point lead over him in the final round of the Vios Circuit Championship last November 9 at Clark International Speedway.

Diwa fought hard for third in the opening Race 7, and claimed second during Race 9–doing just enough to overtake Ong as the Toyota San Fernando driver grabbed his only podium finish–a third place result–during the same race. Red showed great composure as he allowed a rampaging John Dizon a clean path to first in Race 9 rather than risk not finishing by defending hard during a race that already saw a multiple car collision early on–a lesson he learned from his previous campaign in the one-make series.

“Last year I won 4 out of 9 races–but I still lost the championship because I was not consistent. Winning is just one race and not the same as winning the whole series yet. So this season what I did is work on my consistency. Never mind if I don’t win always–I’ve only won once–but I’m still challenging for the championship.”

His new strategy paid off as he grabbed the Sporting Class championship with his very last result of the season! Congratulations Red Diwa and Growl-Thule Racing Team!

Growl Corporation is one of the largest developers and distributors of first-class OEM in-dash Audio, Video and Navigation (AVN) systems. Our product, the Growl Audio Head Unit is customized for different car models.

Thule Sport & Cargo Systems, on the other hand, is exclusively distributed by Tow & Stow Industries, Inc. They are an importer, distributor, and manufacturer of vehicle towing products such as hitch receivers (TOTALHITCH™ brand), trailers (TOTALTRAILERS™ brand) and accessories.

The 2019 season of Toyota Motor Philippines’s racing series hits its climax this Saturday, November 9, at Clark International Speedway–and they’re giving eager audiences two ways to catch the racing action!

Admission is free for those who head to CIS–along with a complementary shuttle service from SM Clark to CIS–while a livestream will also be available on their official FB account: http://www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorPhilippines. BTS coverage and other highlights will also be posted on their Twitter (@ToyotaMotorPH) and Instagram (@ToyotaMotorPhilippines)!

Headlining the final round of the Vios Circuit Challenge are Gerald Anderson, Chie Filomeno, Gretchen Ho, Daniel Matsunaga, Aubrey Miles, and Troy Montero who are competing for the crown in the Celebrity Class. Fabio Ide joins the up-and-coming contenders in the Promotional Class, while the seasoned veterans of the super competitive Sporting Class will be putting on the highlight of the weekend!

Vios Car Club members, motoring journalists, along with social media personalities and winners will also be putting the Vios through a technical workout in the finals of the Vios Autocross Challenge!

“This event is really about celebrating the continuing rise of motorsports in the country and the discovery of more Filipino racing talents,” said Ma. Cristina Arevalo, TMP’s First Vice President for Brand and Product Planning. “We hope you can join us for the very last time this year, as we proudly champion our racers and exhibit the power of the Vios.”

Gates open at 9:00AM for some waku-doki goodness, see you there!