MediaCorp Subaru Impreza WRX Challenge (Chinese: 比耐力赢轿车比赛) is an annual challenge organised by MediaCorp Radio and Subaru in Singapore. It has been held at the open air space in front of Ngee Ann City since its inauguration in (31 October) 2002.
Contents
Format
Contestants are required to reach the competition ground at 7 am of the competition day for registration, which is always on a Saturday. The competition itself starts at 1 pm sharp on that day. Contestants are required to keep a hand on a position on the car pre-selected randomly. The contestant is eliminated if he or she lifts his or her hand off the car, whether deliberately or accidentally. Contestants are allowed a 5-minute break every 6 hours of the competition, at 7 pm, 1 am, 7 am and 1 pm. The winner wins the Subaru vehicle on offer in the competition.
Highlights
In 2005, the competition was called the Subaru Team Challenge as it was a competition by teams consisting of 2 people per team, and when one is disqualified, the entire team was out. Two cars were awarded for the winners that year.
In 2007, the format was the "Battle of the Sexes", and the winner of the men and women categories both won a car each.
In 2008, regional contestants from Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia joined in to mark the first time the competition went into a regional format, called the "Regional Face Off".
In 2009, contestants from China, Taiwan and Indonesia joined them in the 2009 edition and renamed the "Asian Face Off".
Contestants from Vietnam joined the fray in the 2010 edition. In the 2011 edition, there were no contestants from Hong Kong for the first time in three years, but contestants from Cambodia and Macau are added into the contest. In 2012, there were no contestants from Macau but contestants from Hong Kong returned. The list of countries in the 2013 and 2014 edition are the same as the 2012 version. In 2015, there were no contestants from Indonesia for the first time in six years. The list of countries in the 2016 edition is the same as the 2015 edition.
In 2012, to mark the 11th anniversary of the Challenge, an additional 11 seconds are added to the usual 5-minute evening break at 7 pm. Also, the last 11 standing contestants will be awarded a 'Wild Card', where they can choose from a list of items such as a drink or an extra break. Also, an additional break was provided at 4 pm on the Sunday and Monday of the competition due to the extreme afternoon heat.
In 2013, due to the sudden thunderstorm, the competition was paused from 4.30 pm to 5.40 pm on Monday for safety reasons, making it the longest ever pause during the competition itself since it started in 2002.
In 2014, the public can also show their support by playing a special online game to win extra five-minute breaks for their participant of choice. The top 10 ranked scorers in each Reward Round will receive a reward of an extra 5-minute break which can be assigned to an active contestant of their choice.
In 2015, the Subaru car on offer as the top prize for the competition will also include the Certificate of Entitlement for the first time, making it the grandest prize on offer at S$115,000. However, as the competition was won by a non-Singaporean, the COE would not be added. This was also the first time the competition was won by a non-Singaporean. In view of possible hazy conditions, the competition took place in a covered tent for the first time in 14 years. Air-conditioners were also on standby if the PSI crossed 100, but the PSI stayed in the good and moderate range throughout the competition.
Country Team Winner and Asian Winner
The country or region whose participants have the longest combined standing time will be awarded the Country Team Winner title along with a cash prize of S$10,000, to be equally divided among the team. S$5,000 for the last man or women whose participants have the longest.