TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup kicks off 2024 race season

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently kicked off the 10th season of its motorsports program with the first race weekend of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup). The thrill-filled event saw thousands of spectators at the Clark International Speedway as more than 30 racers battled it out on track for the sprint and endurance races. 

TMP President Masando Hashimoto drives car #4 under the Novice Class

During the opening ceremony, TMP President Masando Hashimoto revealed that he would be participating as a racer under the Novice Class – a new circuit racing class that gathers winners and top performers from the Autocross Challenge. He was joined by influencers Lexi Mendiola and Reph Bangsil, media racers Jamil Lacuna, Jose Altoveros, Pablo Salapantan and John Ray San Diego, and sim racer Russel Reyes.

Seasoned racers under the Promotional, Sporting, and Super Sporting classes also returned to the track to bring adrenaline-pumping action with 2024 newcomers.

Sporting and Super Sporting Class racers battle it out in wet weather

The morning saw racers driving under sunny skies, while the afternoon was met with rain showers. The differing weather conditions put both racers and cars to the test, providing fans with high-octane wheel-to-wheel battles.

For the first race weekend, two sprint races and one endurance race were held.

Here is the full list of winners:

RACE 1: SPRINT RACE 1

NOVICE CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Jamil LacunaTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2Russel ReyesTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3Jose AltoverosTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Bong GarbesInbox – Toyota San Fernando
2Rex AbrenillaToyota Team Cebu
3Johndale DyToyota Team Cebu
SPORTING CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Jiro GarbesInbox – Toyota San Fernando
2Jarond MesinaToyota Team Cebu
3Danzel WaytanJD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc 
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Red DiwaJBT Racing / Toyota Isabela
2Iñigo AntonToyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
3Russel CabreraToyota Team Cebu

RACE 2: SPRINT RACE 2

NOVICE CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Russel ReyesTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2Jamil LacunaTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3John Rey San DiegoTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Julia Delos AngelesToyota Marilao/San Jose Del Monte – Obengers Racing Team
2Bong GarbesInbox – Toyota San Fernando
3Rex AbrenillaToyota Team Cebu
SPORTING CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Jay LaoHappy Hotels Racing Team
2Danzel WaytanJD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc
3Carlo SuarezToyota Team Cebu
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Russel CabreraToyota Team Cebu
2Mikey Keilani JordanJordan Racing
3Iñigo AntonToyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team

RACE 3: ENDURANCE RACE 1

NOVICE CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Russel ReyesTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2Jamil LacunaTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3Lexi MendiolaTOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Julia Delos AngelesToyota Marilao/San Jose Del Monte – Obengers Racing Team
2Bong GarbesInbox – Toyota San Fernando
3Rex AbrenillaToyota Team Cebu
SPORTING CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Danzel WaytanJD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc
2Jarond MesinaToyota Team Cebu
3Carlo SuarezToyota Team Cebu
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
RankNameTeam
1Iñigo AntonToyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
2Russel CabreraToyota Team Cebu
3Ian RosalesToyota Team Cebu
TMP President Masando Hashimoto and Senior Vice President Masahiro Haoka with the Endurance Race Novice Class winners
Endurance Race Promotional Class winners
Endurance Race Sporting Class winners
Endurance Race Super Sporting Class winners
A car club member drives their GR Yaris on the track
Spectators at the Clark International Speedway were treated with a GR 86 driving exhibition

Four-wheeled showstoppers were also spotted on track as car club members took to the speedway their GR performance vehicles for the Car Club Track Day. This was followed by a driving exhibition by drifters Hanz Jimenez and Dane Cruz.

A select few from the public were also given the exciting opportunity to ride shotgun and experience being drifted on the track. Freebies were also up for grabs at the sponsors’ booths and TGR GT Cup experience booth.

Autotelic heats up the stage at the TGR Philippine Cup

The race weekend was capped by performances by Filipino band Autotelic, raffles for the public, and the succeeding awarding of winners.

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup is brought to you by Official Fuel Parter Petron and Official Tire Partner GT Radial, and in cooperation with Official Timekeeper Seiko. This event is also supported by Toyota Financial Services Philippines, myTOYOTA Wallet, Denso, AVT, 3M, ROTA, Tuason Racing, OMP, and Kinto One.

Racing fans can look forward to the second race weekend of the TGR Philippine Cup on September 28, 2024 for more exhilarating action. 

For more information on the TGR Philippine Cup, visit https://toyota.com.ph/tgrphilippines. Follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing on Facebook and Instagram and TMP’s official pages—Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, ToyotaMotorPH on X, and join the Viber community at Toyota PH for updates.

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