Asia's Most Extreme Endurance Challenge is Back with a New Team Twist

Mediacorp Subaru Car Challenge 2017 kicks off

• Mediacorp Subaru Car Challenge is into its 16th year
• For the first time in Challenge history, a group of 10 with the longest combined time will receive an additional prize of $5,000

28 October 2017, Singapore – Asia's most extreme endurance challenge, the Mediacorp Subaru Car Challenge has kicked off at 1pm this afternoon.

The Challenge, which returns for its 16th year, will see a total of 320 local participants and 80 regional participants from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The 400 hopefuls will battle fatigue, sleep deprivation and extreme weather conditions in the Subaru arena at Ngee Ann City's Civic Plaza, in hopes of winning the Grand Prize: a Subaru XV 2.0i-S, worth S$65,000 without Certificate of Entitlement (COE).

For the first time ever, this year's Challenge will offer an additional prize of S$5,000 to the winning corporate or school team of 10, with the longest combined time across each individual team member.

"With the Mediacorp Subaru Car Challenge in its 16th year, we believe the competition will only get tougher as returning contestants come back to challenge new participants and their own personal bests," said Reza Mutalib, Head of Regional Marketing and Events, Motor Image Enterprises Pte. Ltd. "Last year, we saw a twelve-time participant take home the grand prize. The sheer grit and indomitable fighting spirit of contestants, both past and present, is awe-inspiring and we're excited to see who will emerge as the winner this year."

Visitors and supporters to this year's challenge can also get a taste of the Car Challenge, by taking part in the Subaru Public Challenge, where they can test how long they can endure and be rewarded with exciting prizes. In conjunction with Halloween, the venue will also host the following activities:

• Interactive Halloween carnival for families
• Horror movie screenings every night
• Stilt Walkers performance on 28 and 29 October 2017 at 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 6:30pm
• Mime Artistes performance on 28 and 29 October 2017 at 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm and 6:30pm

DUO Rewards will organise fund raising activities for Rainbow Centre, a school for children with special needs, at this year's Car Challenge. The public can purchase palm design stickers and write encouraging notes for the children at Rainbow Centre. In return, the Donor will receive a gift and Tan Chong International will do a dollar-to-dollar matching donation for Rainbow Centre.

This year, supporters will play a crucial role which may make or break the contestants. Additional rest breaks can be given to contestants with supporters who take part in an online game at carchallenge.sg. The top 10 game scorers on the scoreboard will earn their supported participant an extra 5-minute break. The scoreboard will reset after every break and the online game will end upon the last 10 standing contestants.

Ms Jessie Sng, Lead, Partnerships, English Audience, Mediacorp said, "The intensity of the Challenge, together with the light-hearted fun of the Halloween carnival will create a sensational and memorable experience for both contestants and supporters. We are looking forward to families coming over the weekend to cheer for contestants and also be part of the activities."

In addition to being eligible for the Grand Prize, regional contestants will also compete for additional titles and cash prizes. The title of Regional Winner and a cash prize of S$1,000 will be awarded to the final standing representative of each participating region. The last standing regional contestant will win the Asian Winner title and walk away with an additional S$5,000 cash. The region whose participants have the longest combined standing time, will be awarded the Regional Team Winner title along with a cash prize of S$10,000 to be equally divided among the team.

To win, contestants need to place their right palms firmly within the surface area of the palm decals and be the last one standing. They will be given a 5-minute break once every six hours throughout the competition. Last year's winner was Singaporean Mr. Sunawr Ali, who took home the Grand Prize of a Subaru XV 1.6i-S with an impressive time of 75 hours and 58 minutes.

For more information and updates, please visit toggle.sg/carchallenge.

Jointly issued by Mediacorp Pte Ltd and Subaru.