The pinnacle of Philippine endurance racing has a new undisputed ruler. After a relentless five-year pursuit of the ultimate prize, Mark Young Team Motul X Yokohama has finally conquered the top step of the podium, delivering a masterclass in tactical pit strategy and wet-weather driving. Competing at the Clark International Speedway, the powerhouse squad secured a historic multi-title sweep at the Makabayan Endurance Race Challenge Kalayaan Cup, firmly cementing their place at the absolute peak of local motorsport.

The tone for the triumphant weekend was established early when elite racer Iñigo Anton clinched a dominant pole position during qualifying. While the Mark Young Racing Team has been a formidable force since first entering the Makabayan endurance series half a decade ago, the overall race victories had consistently eluded them despite numerous class wins. This year, the team completely rewrote the narrative, navigating unpredictable weather and world-class competition to emerge as the Overall Champion in both the 2-Hour and 4-Hour Endurance Races.

The path to victory was far from easy, as the squad’s flagship #888 Honda Civic EG faced a massive technological threat in the form of a formidable 280-horsepower, K24-powered, full-carbon Miata fielded by the Canadian AES team. Driven by Iñigo Anton, Carlos Anton, and Marky Young, the team relied on the mechanical reliability of their MRD Performance and Ernie Sambo-tuned machine, backed by high-performance Motul 300V oil and Yokohama Advan tires, to mount a fierce defense against their high-powered rival.

The 2-Hour Endurance Race turned into an intense, hour-long, bumper-to-bumper duel, with Iñigo Anton trading the lead with the Canadian squad multiple times. The race flipped in favor of the local team during a crucial safety car deployment, where Team Manager Jason Young made the masterful tactical decision to call the Honda Civic into the pit lane early. This swift pit maneuver successfully beat their rivals back onto the tarmac, allowing the team to hold the lead all the way to the checkered flag.

Unpredictable weather brought even more drama to the subsequent 4-Hour Endurance Race. Thirty minutes after Iñigo Anton took the green light from pole, a massive downpour flooded the Clark circuit. Capitalizing on his reputation as a "Rain Master," Anton utilized the superior wet grip of his tires to break away from the pack. Marky Young took over for the second stint, driving brilliantly to stretch the advantage to a commanding five-lap lead, before handing the reins to veteran racer Carlos Anton to manage the car’s mechanical longevity. Following a quick "splash and dash" fuel stop, Iñigo jumped back into the cockpit to triumphantly bring the car home.

To put a definitive exclamation point on the historic weekend, the outfit also walked away with the prestigious Overall Team Award for both races. The team's secondary entry—the Pista Lubes Honda Civic EK driven by Karol Collantes, Rich Mark Young, and Jeff Angelo Balao—showed incredible pace to cross the line right behind their teammates, securing a dominant 1-2 finish in both Class 1 and Open A categories. With a multi-car double victory finally realized, Team Owner Mark Young and his entire crew have established their operations as the gold standard of Philippine endurance racing.