They didn't even slow down for food
Family of five beat veterans at this year's TNP SUVival Challenge
It was only their second time taking part in The New Paper SUVival Challenge.
But the team of two teenage boys, a two-year-old toddler and their parents won the Challenge's 10th edition.
Mr Edmund Lee, 45, a pilot and also the family driver, his wife Chrishirl Campos, 45, and their three children beat veteran participants.
Event manager, SUV Expedition Club (Suvec), described this year's Challenge as the toughest one yet. They had finished in seventh place in 2013.
They were so shell-shocked at the win that Madam Campos gasped loudly as her husband hugged and kissed her when they were crowned champions last night at The Royale Bintang Resort and Spa in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Madam Campos said: "It was supposed to be a family adventure. To actually win the SUVival Challenge is a huge but pleasant surprise.
"And to win it on its 10th anniversary is something even more special."
As champions, they took home $3,000 cash, a Curve camera, a $200 Autobac product hamper, a year's servicing package at Bardahl and a Jeep remote-controlled toy car.
Along with 100 other SUVs, the Lees had to make stops at eight game checkpoints, an adventure challenge segment before the off-road segment in Negeri Sembilan.
Their limited experience and lack of drivers did not faze the family that frequently drives up to Malaysia.
Madam Campos said: "The children helped with the puzzles. They were always the first out of the car and running to the checkpoints. Even baby Elliot behaved himself."
ON THE GO
Eduard, 15, and Emmanuel, 17, credited their mother for making ham-and-cheese sandwiches, tuna croissants and chilled H-TWO-O drinks on the go - so they did not need to slow down.
A beaming Mr Lee said: "It was a great family effort."
Suvec president Ryn Razif, 38, congratulated the Lees.
"It was quite an unexpected result. But right at the start, I noticed them to be very enthusiastic, even embroidering their team number onto their Denizen event tees.
"They came in way ahead of the second team. They really played the game well and deserved it."
When asked if they would return next year, Mr Lee said: "Of course we would like to come back and get dirty once again."
This year's Challenge, with more than 100 participants, was designed to be the toughest, muddiest and most exciting.
Find out more about the event in TNP tomorrow.
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