Twenty-nine hours and 38 minutes was the final record time it took for 28 year-old Apple Joy Lee Balibado to overcome the physical hardship and harsh weather conditions to win the Subaru Impreza Challenge Manila Leg at the Fort Bonifacio Global City.

The petite Apple Joy edged out last year’s winner Gerald Gonzaga and will lead the eight other finalists heading to Singapore to represent the Philippines in the regional finals of the Subaru Impreza Challenge.

Rounding-up the top three positions with Balibado and Gonzaga is Relly Esposo, an extreme sports enthusiast who came all the way from Olongapo City, Zambales to compete in the Subaru Impreza Challenge. As the top three finishers, they will be receiving P15,000, P10,000, and P5,000 respectively.

The seven other finalists are Mark Lauder, Ray Joseph Pizana, Raimond dela Torre, Daryll Sarno, Danilo Biadog, Joseph Galvez, and Chrizar Mallari.

All 10 of them will fly to an all-expense-paid trip to Singapore for the regional finals where they stand the chance to win a brand-new Subaru Impreza WRX 2.5L Turbo worth P1.728 million.

Endurance was the key as the Subaru Impreza Challenge Manila Leg lasted through both heavy downpour with turbulent winds, and scorching heat with the contestants’ right palms firmly placed on the palm decals strategically located on the Subaru Impreza cars.

The grueling conditions however, took the best of many of the participants including Pres. Cory’s four honor guards – PO2 Danilo Malab of the PNP, PO2 Edgardo Rodriguez of the Phil. Navy, A2C Gener Laguindam of the PAF, and PFC Antonio Cadiente of the Phil. Army, who had to endure, and eventually submit to the harsh weather and body fatigue.

The 10 finalists will aim to last more than the record time of 81 hours and 32 minutes set by the 2008 winner George Lee from Singapore, who beat 399 other participants including the 10 Filipino representatives who qualified in last year’s Manila Leg. The last Filipino survivor in the competition lasted 62 hours and 53 minutes.

This year, a stronger and tougher Filipino contingent is expected considering the more challenging rules and regulation for this year’s event.

Motor Image Pilipinas general manager, Nicky Mariano said, “We are very happy with the turnout this year and we hope that we can come up with the first Filipino winner for the regional finals in Singapore.”