The following content is cited from UDN Automotive Channel report (2024-10-27 09:44) by reporter Chen Weiren:
https://autos.udn.com/autos/story/7825/8318740

According to the 2023 mountain accident report from the Ministry of the Interior’s Fire Agency, Taiwan experiences more than one mountain accident daily, requiring over 10 firefighters per rescue, with official fire agency mobilization reaching 73%. Chairman Chen Hehuang of the Taiwan Safe Driving Association focuses on enhancing vehicle driving skills, safe driving methods, vehicle electronics and mechanical operation, correct usage, and timing for personnel in firefighting, rescue, and military units.

In the first phase, "training through competition," Chen led the i TAIWAN Rally Team, including rising rally driver Chen Yiwen, Nantou Fire Department’s Yushan Squad leader Hong Rongzhu, firefighters Chen Junyuan and Liu Lijun from Taichung, and experienced off-road racers Huang Taiwei and Lai Wencan. The team won the electric vehicle and women's class championships at the 2024 Asia Cross Country Rally, successfully achieving the association’s goal of promoting safe off-road driving for firefighting rescue through competition.

 

The second phase expands training to popularize safe driving skills for firefighting and rescue. From October 21 to 23, the Taiwan Safe Driving Association and Chen Hehuang, together with rally champion firefighters, held the 2024 Advanced Fire Rescue Off-Road Experience Camp at the Shui Niukeng off-road site in Linkou, New Taipei City. The course covered basic off-road vehicle knowledge, comparisons of 2WD and 4WD, off-road safety driving, and practical driving exercises over complex terrain such as streams, mud, pits, gullies, sand, gravel, and steep slopes to sharpen emergency rescue driving skills.

Chen Hehuang stated that correct driving achieves twice the result with half the effort, compensating for the unit’s lack of hardware and software resources. He hopes the advanced firefighting off-road training camp will enhance firefighters’ skills to safely navigate bomb craters during war or fractured terrain after earthquakes and typhoons. This training aims to ensure rescuers arrive within the golden rescue time while protecting both personnel and equipment, reducing wear and damage.

Previously, the “training through racing” program also focused on cultivating advanced firefighting safe driving skills and seed instructors. The 2024 Asia Cross Country Rally, certified by the FIA, featured teams from India, Indonesia, Australia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and others, with 66 vehicles competing in a six-day race covering over 2,000 kilometers.

The No. 141 Luxgen n7 electric vehicle, driven by Chen He-Huang and Hong Rong-Zhu, team leader of the Yushan Division of the Nantou County Fire Department, was the first-ever two-wheel-drive and pure electric vehicle to compete in the rally’s history. Despite initial doubts from many before the race, both international teams and media closely watched whether the two-wheel-drive electric vehicle could finish the race. Ultimately, with teamwork, the No. 141 electric two-wheel-drive car from Taiwan not only helped overturned vehicles on the track but also successfully completed the race, winning the electric vehicle class championship. After the race, Hong Rong-Zhu recalled, “The spirit of rally racing is very much like firefighting and rescue. The experience of completing the over 2,000-kilometer mission and overcoming difficulties under Chen’s guidance is unforgettable.”

 

This year, Japanese and Indonesian teams sent stronger vehicles to compete in the women’s category. Taiwan’s young rally driver Chen Yi-Wen and firefighter Liu Li-Jun from the Taichung City Fire Department, driving car No. 146, faced tough battles from day one. Fortunately, with strategic support from the team and assistance from Huang Tai-Wei, Lai Wen-Tsan, and firefighter Chen Jun-Yuan driving car No. 148 from the Taichung City Fire Department, they achieved a final time of 29 hours, 5 minutes, and 25 seconds, overturning the Indonesian team at the last moment to successfully defend the Asia Cross Country Rally women’s championship.

Liu Li-Jun, women’s champion, said: “Facing devastated roads with no intact surfaces, how can we deliver personnel and supplies? This race gave me deep insight into driving across obstacles.”

Co-driver Chen Jun-Yuan of car No.148, responsible for rescue strategy, said: “When roads are blocked after disasters, how can missions be completed quickly and safely? Teamwork is crucial; no one can do it alone.”

Chen He-Huang, captain of i TAIWAN Rally Team, expressed great satisfaction with the three firefighter seed instructors in this “training through racing” program: “They mastered vehicle mechanics and road conditions very well. Over six days and 2000 kilometers, they had no accidents or tire bursts. This was key to winning two group championships against strong Asian competitors by a narrow margin.”

 

Chen also hopes the advanced off-road firefighter training camp will pass on these experiences, boosting Taiwan’s firefighting and rescue capabilities.

With 50 years of off-road racing experience, BF Goodrich MUD TERRAIN T/A KM3 is the designated tire for the i TAIWAN Rally Team at the 2024 Asia Cross Country Rally. BF Goodrich supports drivers in completing missions, inspiring passion, and realizing dreams. As a partner of the Advanced Firefighting Off-Road Training Camp, BF Goodrich fulfills its corporate social responsibility (CSR) by helping enhance Taiwan’s firefighting and rescue capabilities.