PH teams eye great finish at 2023 Shell Eco-marathon

Philippine teams participating at the Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2023 are eyeing a good finish amid the stiff competition at the said meet.

As of July 7 morning, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila (PUP) Hygears’ Luna IV (competing under the Urban Concept Battery Electric category) and the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) Valor’s Avalon (under the Prototype Internal Combustion Engine class), were undergoing stringent technical inspections.

Despite that, the Philippine teams are in high spirits and are maximizing all the help and support they can get from their mentors, SEM alumni, and fellow competitors.

At the aforementioned competition, the aforementioned participants donning the country’s colors form part 76 groups from 13 countries that are taking part in SEM Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2023. The event is being held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, in Indonesia.

Since the start of the event last July 4, the teams have spent time working on their respective entries in time for the competition. 

Despite challenges, both teams are optimistic that they can finish this season successfully.

“We feel so excited. It seems like this will be another chance for us to bounce back from what happened last year. Although we won an off-track award last year, this time we want to make sure that our best will turn into something more rewarding,” PUP Hygears Team Driver Edward Brian Custodio shared.

“We want to achieve the expectations of the people who supported us from the very beginning. First, we want to pass the technical inspection, have a valid run, and get good results from that valid run,” UPHSD ALTAS Valor Team Reserve Driver Emelito Jr. Montano, for his part, noted.

Shell Asia-Pacific Corporate Relations Vice President Sean Winnet expressed firm belief that with determination and hard work, the students “can accomplish incredible things for their countries.” “The competition allows them to focus their efforts and creativity in advancing technology in the field of energy-efficient vehicles which is essential for a cleaner energy future,” he claimed.

The awarding ceremony for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East leg will be today (July 9). Winners from the region will compete in the World Championship of Shell Eco-marathon in Bangalore, India in October.

Photos from Shell Philippines Corporation

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