The action is back on the racetrack! Racers and racing enthusiasts gathered once again at the Clark International Speedway (CIS) last September 9, 2023, as Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) kicked off the second leg of its longest-running premier one-make-race series, the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Vios Cup.
It was an unforgettable weekend as the speedway came alive with loud cheers from fans on the stands and the sound of engines revving. Racing fans from all over the country watched together on the bleachers and virtually over the online livestream, to root for their favorite racers in the Circuit Championship and Autocross Challenge.
Contenders from the first leg, including beloved racers and TGR veterans Troy Montero and Enzo Pineda, beauty queens Carla Lizardo and Megan Young, and crowd-favorites Benedict Cua, Bianca Yao and Lexi Mendiola, came back to the racetrack ready to fight for their place on the podium.
Across the three categories of the Circuit Championship—Promotional, Sporting and Super Sporting—racers gave a heart-stopping show from start to finish. Emerging as the victor after all the exhilaration of the Promotional class was Jarond Mesina of Toyota Team Cebu, followed by Alain Alzona of Toyota General Santos – Chooks to Go Racing Team and Bong Garbes of Inbox – Toyota San Fernando in second and third places, respectively. Meanwhile Jiro Garbes of Inbox – Toyota San Fernando dominated in the Sporting class with Russel Cabrera of Toyota Team Cebu and Maila Alivia of JBT Racing Team / Toyota Isabela followed in second and third places. In the Super Sporting class, the crowds roared with cheers as Obengers Racing Team’s Joaquin Garrido stepped onto the podium. Bryan Co of R Racing Team followed him in second spot and JBT Racing Team / Toyota Isabela’s Red Diwa in the third spot.
Meanwhile, the Autocross Challenge featured female power again as it was another all-female winners for Promotional Media Class with Lyka Tan of Carmudi taking the top spot and she was followed by Pattice Tenorio of Zigwheels in second and Mica Delos Reyes of Philippine Star in third. In the Sporting Media Class, C! Magazine’s Wowie Go is hailed championed with Ronald Delos Reyes of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Autocar’s John Rey San Diego won the second and third places.
Newcomer Ezra Domingo enjoys his first time in the podium after grabbing the first spot in the Promotional Influencer Class, where he’s followed by Bianca Yao and Genesis Redido in second and third places. In the Sporting Class, Reph Bangsil reclaims the first spot after his years of Vios Cup hiatus. Miggy Romulo followed in second and Lexi Mendiola in third.
Meanwhile, seasoned racers Milo Rivera and Jose Altoveros, along with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Ambassador, Marlon Stockinger, joined together for a special Autocross Challenge featuring the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV as their race car—to which Milo Rivera was hailed champion.
Here is the full list of winners:
CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP
| PROMOTIONAL CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Jarond Mesina | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 2 | Alain Alzona | Toyota General Santos – Chooks to Go Racing Team |
| 3 | Bong Garbes | Inbox – Toyota San Fernando |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Jiro Garbes | Inbox – Toyota San Fernando |
| 2 | Russel Cabrera | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 3 | Maila Alivia | JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Joaquin Garrido | Toyota North Edsa – Obengers Racing Team |
| 2 | Bryan Co | R Racing Team |
| 3 | Red Diwa | JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela |
AUTOCROSS CHALLENGE
| PROMOTIONAL MEDIA CLASS | |
| Rank | Name |
| 1 | Lyka Tan – Carmudi |
| 2 | Pattice Tenorio – Zigwheels |
| 3 | Mica de los Reyes – Philippine Star |
| SPORTING MEDIA CLASS | |
| Rank | Name |
| 1 | Wowie Go – C! Magazine |
| 2 | Ronald Delos Reyes – Philippine Daily Inquirer |
| 3 | John Rey San Diego – Autocar Philippines |
| PROMOTIONAL INFLUENCER CLASS | |
| Rank | Name |
| 1 | Ezra Domingo |
| 2 | Bianca Yao |
| 3 | Genesis Redido |
| SPORTING INFLUENCER CLASS | |
| Rank | Name |
| 1 | Reph Bangsil |
| 2 | Migy Romulo |
| 3 | Lexi Mendiola |
This leg, Toyota also showcased its GR lineup comprising of the GR Supra, GR Yaris and GR 86 joined by the display of the New Hilux GR-S, which did not fail to capture the attention of the crowd. On top of this, the Toyota Tamaraw concept graced the tracks as this leg’s safety car. To make the event even more engaging for the fans, sponsors of the race set up booths and organized fun activities for everyone to enjoy.
The Toyota GAZOO Racing Vios Cup Leg 2 was organized with the support of sponsors Bridgestone and Petron, both of which made every TGR fest even more extraordinary than the last. The TGR would not have been possible either without the help of its other sponsors, namely Denso, 3M, AVT, ROTA, OMP, Tuason Racing, myTOYOTA Wallet and Kinto One.
Toyota remains committed to raising the bar of motorsports in the country and making it more accessible and inclusive for more Filipinos through the TGR Vios Cup. Don’t miss the final leg of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Vios Cup, happening on November 11, 2023, for more exciting GAZOO moments.
For more information on the TGR Vios Cup, visit toyota.com.ph/gazoo/vios-cup. Follow Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines on Facebook and TMP’s official pages – Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, toyota.com.ph, ToyotaMotorPH on Twitter and Toyota PH on Viber – for regular updates on products and services, dealer operations, announcements and events.
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