It was a weekend of checkered flags and fast cars as Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) went racing and rolled out what could be the most highly anticipated sports car in recent years, the all-new Supra.
The Vios Racing Festival last June 8 saw veterans and new faces meeting from the tracks up to the podium, with celebrities, racing teams, and car club members, Toyota owners, and motoring media taking it pedal-to-the-metal in two exciting formats: Autocross Challenge and Circuit Championship.
The Autocross Challenge is a timed competition where drivers race through an obstacle course one at a time; while the Circuit Championship is a wheel-to-wheel format where drivers race each other over several laps—all using the One-Make Race (OMR) edition of the latest Toyota Vios. The OMR Vios racecar has been modified for optimum handling and performance given the two different racing formats.
“Today, we witness the first leg of the Vios Circuit Championship. This event will be the first time that the all-new Vios One Make Race model is going to be tested at the circuit tracks since its appearance as the official pace car in Filinvest, Alabang last 2018. I hope that you are all as thrilled as I am to see the all-new Vios in action,” said TMP President, Satoru Suzuki as he formally opened the competition.
The festival also became the venue where car and race fans enjoyed a surprise sneak peek of the new Toyota Supra in action. Suzuki personally drove the Supra on the speedway to the spectators’ delight.
“As our way of saying “thank you” for coming all the way here at the Clark International Speedway, I am very honored to announce that you are now among the first in Southeast Asia to see the 2019 Toyota Supra in the metal,” said Suzuki.
This year, there are three categories for the Vios Circuit Championship: Sporting Class Promotional Class, and Celebrity Class—participated in by a total of 22 racers.
For the Celebrity Class, fans and spectators saw Vios endorser Gerald Anderson racing with Chie Filomeno, Gretchen Ho, Daniel Matsunaga, Aubrey Miles, and Troy Montero. Former celebrity racer Fabio Ide advanced to the Promotional Class.
For the Autocross Challenge, Toyota continued its push for a more inclusive and accessible motorsports program by inviting Toyota owners—even those with no prior racing experience—to join the online contest via its official Facebook account. Winners were given a chance to be part of more than 50 Autocross racers who experienced the power and performance of the OMR Vios racecar.
And just like Toyota’s past racing programs, the Vios Racing Festival is open to everyone who wants to watch the races and join the side activities—with no entrance fees.
The Toyota Vios Racing Festival is held in cooperation with Bridgestone; supported by Petron, Motul, and Rota; and other sponsors Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, OMP, and Tuason Racing. TMP’s premiere motorsports program is also supported by: Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota Racing School, and Toyota Racing Development.
The Vios Racing Festival will return to the Clark International Speedway for the second and third leg of the Circuit Championship in August and November, respectively.
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