Local News: Subaru Impreza Challenge 2010 Has A Winner

The Subaru Impreza Challenge 2010 came to an emotional close at 4.17pm, with 45-year-old technician, Aloysius Lim, emerging victorious. Mr Lim outlasted 51-year-old driver, Mr Abdul Hamid Jonid, when the latter’s hand slipped from the Subaru car, 75 hours and 17 minutes into the competition.

Incidentally, the final two contestants were part of the 10 contestants belonging to car number eight. A large crowd of onlookers and supporters huddled at the steps of Ngee Ann City Plaza to watch the intense showdown.

Affectionately known as “Kacang” by his supporters, Mr Jonid was visibly struggling after the 75th hour and was seen squatting and rubbing his back to stay in the competition. At times, he was swaying back and forth, and leaning forward to massage and kiss his fingers that were placed flat and firmly on a very difficult spot - the window.

A mix of cheers and sighs arose from the crowd when Mr Jonid’s palm slid off his decal. He collapsed and was taken away on a stretcher. Mysteriously enough, Mr Lim’s palm remained firmly on the bonnet of the car when he was announced the winner, perhaps disbelieving his amazing feat.

An exhausted but smiling Mr Lim said, “It is definitely not easy to win the car. It is mentally-challenging and it had been a very torturous experience for me. With no sleep, I was so stressed and exhausted and I had to plan my breaks strategically so that my five-minute break would help me endure the next six hours.”

“Whenever I was feeling drowsy and sleepy, my wife would be shouting and calling out to me, to keep me alert,” he added.

Mr Glenn Tan, Group Chief Executive of Motor Image Group, and Miss Florence Lian, Managing Director of MediaCorp Radio presented the coveted prize, a Subaru Impreza 2.5 MT sedan worth SGD 98,800 (without COE) to a surprisingly still-energetic Mr Lim.

Credits: wilswong