The 2026 Philippine National Rally Championship will begin on March 27 to 28 with its opening round returning to Lubang in Occidental Mindoro, after the island’s successful debut as a host venue last year.
Organized by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), the season opener will again use the scenic yet demanding roads of Lubang and neighboring Looc, turning the quiet island into the focal point of Philippine rally racing for two days.
The event is being staged with the support of the Municipal Government of Lubang, led by Mayor Michael Orayani, and the Municipality of Looc, headed by Mayor Marlon dela Torre. Their cooperation helped pave the way for the rally’s return to the island.
AAP Motor Sport Committee Chairman Mandy Eduque and AAP Chief Executive Officer Mark Desales will lead officials overseeing the event, including the conduct of the rally and its safety operations.
This year’s Lubang rally will feature 12 special stages spanning more than 90 kilometers, with a mix of daytime and nighttime runs across coastal roads, mountain sections, and rural routes that have become popular with competitors.
Adding another layer of difficulty, the season opener will be run as a blind rally. Teams will not be allowed to conduct reconnaissance of the stages beforehand, forcing drivers and co-drivers to depend entirely on the official road book prepared by organizers. The format puts greater emphasis on accurate pace notes, in-car teamwork, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing road conditions.
More than 20 rally teams have already registered for the opening round, competing in multiple classes ranging from production-based cars to heavily modified rally machines.
The return to Lubang follows a highly successful rally in 2025, when the island first hosted a round of the national championship. Its combination of challenging roads, strong local support, and scenic surroundings quickly made it one of the standout events of the season.
Last year’s competition featured intense battles across several categories, with crews facing not only the technical demands of the stages but also unpredictable weather that added to the challenge.
With the rally returning for a second straight year, organizers expect the Lubang round to again highlight the excitement of Philippine rally racing while strengthening the island’s profile as an emerging motorsports destination.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to watch as rally cars take on the island’s roads during the two-day competition, offering fans a rare opportunity to see a full national rally event set against one of Mindoro’s most picturesque island landscapes.