INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines ? Ford-TRS racing team guns for another imposing feat behind ace driver Stuart MacDonald and rookie Manger Calderon this Sunday in the third leg of the Philippine Production Car Championship at the Subic International Raceway.

Calderon, who is running second overall, will try to clinch the top crown on his debut year as he tries to outpace points leader Doby Atilano, who was also the nemesis of 2008 Group 3 champion Stuart MacDonald last year.

The two drivers are expected to increase the level of excitement as they go side-by-side on the racetrack for the Ford-TRS Racing Team powered by Ford Racing, Goodyear Racing, Standard Insurance, OMP, Discovery Suite, Yellow Cab, Aguila Auto Glass, BusinessWorld, C! Magazine, Fremuff, Dupont, Starbright Bodykits, Ultra Racing, Toptul, Orange Electronics, Rota Wheels, K&N, Unichip and Philippine Auto Club.

MacDonald is the reigning PPCC champion and hopes to stage a big comeback after months of absence in the circuit racing scene. Serving as a stand-in for Veli-Matti Kaikkonen, he will try to prove his skills as he faces old rivals.

?I?ll still have to shrug off some rust as I had been more active in drifting,? said MacDonald. ?But seriously, this will bring back memories of my struggles last year as I try to prove I still got what it takes to be the champion.?

Calderon, a former jetski champ and top motocross rider, showed much improvement, placing runner-up twice against veteran rivals in the last leg.

Hitting an impressive fastest laptime of 1:38.3, Calderon moves up to second overall in the Philippine Production Car Championship and help Ford-TRS to surge ahead of the field.