Ishida (right) is seen symbolically handing over the all-new Isuzu D-Max V-Cross to Faez. Isuzu Malaysia continues to extend its support of the Borneo Safari 2014, making it the eighth successive year that the Japanese automotive giant has stepped up as sponsor for Asia’s toughest 4×4 challenge.
KUCHING: Isuzu Malaysia continues to extend its support of the Borneo Safari 2014, making it the eighth successive year that the Japanese automotive giant has stepped up as sponsor for Asia’s toughest 4×4 challenge.
For this year’s event, Isuzu retains its premium position as the Diamond Sponsor, once again forging a formidable alliance with the Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) in its quest to raise the profile of this annual event, the 24th since its inception.
In handing over the company’s sponsorship contribution, chief operating officer (COO) of Isuzu Malaysia Daisuke Ishida exclaimed his delight in being associated with such a prestigious and dynamic event as the Borneo Safari.
“This event has been the mainstay for off-road enthusiasts both regionally and globally and we are delighted to be a part of this great event that drives man and machine to its limits. To conquer such an event truly separates the wheat from the chaff,” said Ishida.
Isuzu Malaysia will once again be providing the official media cars for the event as it has done for the last eight years, bringing members of the media as close to the action as possible in the comfort and safety of the venerable Isuzu D-MAX.
For this event, Isuzu Malaysia will be preparing a unit of the new Isuzu D-MAX V-Cross 3.0 which offers superior performance and traction over all kinds of terrain and driving conditions.
The V-Cross 3.0 will again receive minimal modifications with just a few items added to adapt it to the harsh conditions often faced in the jungles of Borneo including an air snorkel, off-road tyres, heavy duty side steps and a winch. Despite the minimal additions, the Isuzu D-MAX has been able to mix it up with the rest of the convoy through the eight-day event with impressive results.
This led the organisers to declare the Isuzu D-MAX ‘Car of the Year’ twice including last year for its mind-numbing capabilities in almost stock-standard guise.
Receiving the sponsorship on behalf of the organisers, President of the Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association Faez Nordin acknowledged the support Isuzu had provided the organisers of the Borneo Safari in the past.
“The organising committee and participants are ever grateful to sponsors such as Isuzu Malaysia who have recognised the efforts and dedication of the team who have worked tirelessly over the years to build one of the most recognizable and formidable off-road events in the region,” said Faez.
The 24th Borneo Safari is an eight-day event that has begun in Kota Kinabalu yesterday. This year’s event takes participants on a challenging loop of central Sabah including a stop at the diversely-challenging highland terrain in the Imbak Canyon Conservation Centre.