AUTOMOBILE freak, Patrick Balonwu, has emerged winner of this year's 4x4 rally held at Lekki Beach, the outskirt of Lagos State metropolis.Balonwu, who completed the race in less than three minutes with a Toyota F J Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), was followed by Dr Gabriel Ige, who completed the race in three minutes 10 seconds, also using Toyota F J Cruiser while Mr. Edward Osakwe, who competed the race in three minutes 24 second with a Nissan Xterra emerged the second runner-up.The 24 vehicles powered by Total Quartz 4x4 oil, were allowed to race on the beach track prepared for the event, out of which the first six were picked for the final challenge.Sponsored by Total Nigeria Plc and organised by Hemenga GrandPrix, prominent other vehicles such as Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes Benz G500 and Hyundai Ix35 were part of the ceremony.Meanwhile, participants, who were mostly individual owners of the vehicles used during the rally, had to contest with their cars round the track three times in less than five minutes.In his submission, the Chief Executive officer, Hemenga Grand Prix, Mr. Abdul-Rahim Agunbiade, explained that 24 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were deployed for use by drivers.According to him, a three kilometers circuit was created for participating drivers to race on one-on-one against time, adding that to determine the winners, the contestants had to race with their cars round the track three times.The Managing Director of Total Nigeria, Mr. Francis Boussagol, said he was impressed with the organisation of the programme. He reiterated that the event afforded the company the opportunity to showcase its products, especially Total quartz 4x4, which he recommended for all latest generation cross country vehicles.He explained that Total's sponsorship of the programme in partnership with Hemenga GrandPrix, was borne out of the group's commitment to quality customer care guaranteed by its world-class products and service.Balonwu, who expressed his delight being the new winner, said he watched last year's edition and was thrilled, adding, 'I decided to participate this year.'Zimbabweans have won the last two editions of the rally. Mike Kutenha won in 2009 while Farai Kondo emerged winner in last year's edition.The overall winner went home with a trophy, a plaque, six cans of HBF, one carton of insecticide, a top pad with a recharge of N50, 000 cards, a carton of petrol treatment and a carton of diesel treatment. The first runner-up received a plaque, three cans of HBF, half carton of insecticides, a top pad with a recharge of N30, 000, half carton of petrol treatment, half carton of diesel treatment; while the second runner-up got a plaque, half carton of insecticide, half carton of diesel treatment, half carton of petrol treatment, and a top pad with a N20, 000 recharge card.
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