This year’s auto rally holding in Ondo State of Nigeria is set to feature the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu and Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Ltd(TNL), Chief Michael Ade. Ojo (OON) in an exclusive two-man race.
As revealed by the event’s organizers in a recent statement, apart from the professional drivers that would be manning a number of race cars the two-man race between the governor and Chief Ade-Ojo is expected to be the key race for the Day 2 of the event.
According to the coordinator of the 2018 race, Olumide Omolade, Governor Akeredolu, who is said to be the main host of the event, is billed to touch down at different spots in the state, from Friday November 16th to Saturday 17th, 2018 at the state capital, Akure.
“Car lovers from different parts of the country,” Omolade stated, “would converg on Friday November 16 at the Smokin Hill Golf Course for registration before the off-road race of 4×4 category will be flagged to set the event rolling.”
Racers attending the event from Lagos are expected to assemble at the Lagos-Ibadan Toll gate in by 7:00am on Friday November 16. They would be led by Federal Road Safety Corps officials in a convoy down to Ilara- Mokin where the first leg of the two-day event will take off. The flag off is scheduled to take off at 2:00pm, same day.
“From the maiden edition’s experience of last year,” the coordinator explained, “we have scheduled the off road race for the first day. So we will be able to manage the time for the other races that are coming at other venues. For your information, 1.8 litre engine race also known as the Sunshine race will be participating in this year’s event. A lot of entertainments await participants and audience. Also, there is Special Golf Kitty at Smokin Hills, Ilara-Mokin.”
The event would be rounded up with drifting/car stunt at the Arcade on Igbatoro road Akure. There would performances by artists, Mizz Kiss, Vermis Bakare, Lala Eleniyan, Fawazzy and others before the presentation of prizes to winners who will cart away prices of over N3 million worth of cash and goods.
According to Omolade, apart from spiking local tourism, this year’s event will employ about 250 people assigned to man different aspects of the race.
The 2018 Ondo Auto Rally is sponsored by Toyota Nigeria Ltd, Elizade Nigeria Ltd, SMT Nigeria (Volvo), JAC, Meristem, Eterna Oil, Air Namibia, Pepsi and ONDIPA.
Also in support are Ondo state government, Nigeria Travel week, Smokin Hills Golf Resort, Elizade University, Heritage Hotel, Sunview Hotel, Signatures Club, Template Lounge, Splendour Lounge, FRSC and NADDC.