Reigning Vios Cup champion Pauland Dumlao got his title retention bid off to a positive start, ruling one of the two heats in the opening leg at Clark International Speedway recently.
Representing Team Toyota San Fernando, Dumlao picked up from where he left off last season with an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the sporting class.
Dumlao held off the strong challenge of newcomer Daniel Miranda who finished second.
Proving his worth, Estefano Rivera of Toyota Alabang Motorsports ruled the first heat of the sporting class before 5,000 spectators.
Sam Gogna also launched his celebrity division title bid in style, topping the race anew ahead of Phoemela Baranda who prevailed in the first heat of the promotional group. Gogna bested a field that included newcomers Derek Ramsay, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Kylie Padilla and Joyce Pring.
Miguel Diaz gave Toyota Alabang Motorsports its second heat victory when he ruled the second heat of the promotional group.
Adding excitement to the event was a drifting exhibition by Japanese drift king Keiichi Tsuchiya, who also served as one of the judges in the drifting competition. Cedelf P. Tupas