On the podium, Champion Andika Rama, first runner-up Moreno Pratama, and second runner-up Chong Kai Chang, with racer representatives from each country (Photo by the author)
Last November 23, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Asia eSports GT Championship 2025 kicked off at Toyota Alive Space in Bangkok, where fifteen of Asia’s top sim racers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand competed across three high-intensity races in Gran Turismo 7.
For the opening race, the sim racers took on the Suzuka Circuit in the GR Yaris in 7 laps. Their skills were put to the test as they adapted to changing racing conditions — from sudden downpours and tire wear to fuel management and strategic pit stops. I found myself fully immersed in the race at the edge of my seat, rooting for Team Philippines to claim the top spot.
Malaysian Taj Aiman held the lead for six straight laps. However, on the final lap, Indonesian racer Andika Rama’s strategic tire management allowed him to overtake the competition, securing first place on the Suzuka Circuit. He was followed by fellow Indonesian Moreno Pratama in second and Malaysian Chong Kai Chang in third.
Then came one of the biggest twists of this year’s championship: the introduction of a full team-format race. Each trio was required to perform two driver swaps, adding greater emphasis on strategy: when to pit, how long to stretch the tires, where to conserve energy, and how to keep lap times consistent amid changing track conditions.
This new format debuted at Interlagos in the GR010 Hybrid, a 21-lap challenge nearly three times longer than Suzuka. The race also unfolded under a day-to-night transition, highlighting its endurance-style nature and testing each team’s adaptability and coordination.
Team Malaysia, who clinched first place, opted for more frequent tire changes and carefully timed swaps — a strategy that paid off in the final laps. Team Indonesia and Team Singapore took a contrasting approach, prioritizing tire management and minimizing pit stops, yet still secured second and third place finishes, respectively. Team Philippines took the fourth spot, followed by Team Thailand.
The final solo race took place at Watkins Glen in the GR Supra Race Car ‘19 over 14 laps. The Malaysian racers relied on an early-pit-stop strategy and a faster pace, but this led to rapid tire degradation, forcing an additional stop just three laps later.
In the closing laps, Rama’s race craft stood out, allowing him to secure his second individual win of the night, with teammate Pratama taking second place. Meanwhile, Chong staged an impressive comeback, climbing from seventh to third after his second pit stop.
TGR Asia eSports GT Championship 2025 rankings
Indonesia dominated the races with two drivers in the podium for the individual category. Indonesia’s Andika Rama claimed the top podium spot with a total of 74 points, followed by first runner-up Moreno Pratama with 62 points, and with Malaysia’s Chong Kai Chang securing second runner-up with 59 points.
Indonesia accumulated 169 points across Andika Rama, Farizi Pramaditya, and Moreno Pratama, clinching the Country Championship. Malaysia and Singapore followed in second and third place, earning 151 and 93 points, respectively.
The Philippines’ Enzo Ison scored the country’s highest finish at 8th place. Matthew Ang placed 13th, followed by Victor Ancheta in 14th, securing 4th place in the Country Championship for Team Philippines.
The positions were determined from cumulative points earned through finishing positions across all three races, with bonus points for the fastest laps in each of the three races. The top three individuals and teams each received a cash prize of USD 8,000, USD 4,500 and USD 3,000, respectively.
“This year’s TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia eSports GT Championship showcased exactly what the TGR philosophy stands for,” said Jaja Ishibashi, General Manager of Toyota Motor Asia. “Every racer pushed their limits, refined their approach, and demonstrated remarkable composure across changing conditions. Beyond the results, what stood out most was the collective commitment to improvement and teamwork. These are values that continue to drive GAZOO Racing forward.”
During the press conference, what stood out was champion Rama’s insight: sim racing is more about thinking than just driving. For those looking to improve, it’s not only about putting in hours on the track; it’s understanding tire wear, fuel management, the car, and driving dynamics all play a critical role in developing skills and consistency.
At first, I thought more time on the track would help me improve, but being strategic by visualizing and planning your approach proves much more effective. Of course, we never forget to have fun along the way. That said, the entire experience was inspiring — I’m even considering building my own sim rig.
| Individual Championship | |||
| Winner | Prize | Name | Points |
| 1st Place | USD 8,000 | Andika Rama Maulana (IND) | 74 |
| 2nd Place | USD 4,500 | Moreno Pratama (IND) | 62 |
| 3rd Place | USD 3,000 | Chong Kai Chang (MY) | 59 |
| Country Championship | |||
| 1st Place | USD 8,000 | Indonesia | 169 |
| 2nd Place | USD 4,500 | Malaysia | 151 |
| 3rd Place | USD 3,000 | Singapore | 93 |
| Special Awards | |||
| Driver of the Day | Andika Rama Maulana (IND) | ||
| Best Race Craft | Chong Kai Chang (MY) | ||
| Fastest Race Pace | Fadtris Isa (SG) | ||
Drivers
| Country | Drivers |
| Thailand | Thanaphat Pungphat |
| Chaiyapat Lipikornkosol | |
| Akkaparon Meesanthea | |
| Malaysia | Taj Izrin Aiman |
| Iqbal Suji | |
| Chong Kai Chang | |
| Singapore | Muhammad Fadtris Bin Isa |
| Ethan Yoh | |
| Jarod Yikai Zulkifly | |
| Indonesia | Moreno Pratama |
| Farizi Pramaditya | |
| Andika Rama Maulana | |
| Philippines | Victor Ancheta |
| Enzo Ison | |
| Matthew Ang |
 Asia eSports GT Championship 2025 kicked off at Toyota Alive Space in Bangkok...){kind=link}