The weekend event highlighted circuit races, GR driving exhibitions, Tamaraw Racing Concept debut, car community meetups, musical entertainment, and more
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) fired up the engines for Race Weekend 2 of the 2025 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup, turning the streets of Villar City into a racing battleground from May 23 to 25. The country’s premier motorsports spectacle drew over 12,000 adrenaline-seeking fans, with high-octane circuit races, electrifying exhibitions, and live OPM acts turning the event into a full-throttle festival.
Street Circuit Action at its Finest
Drivers from four racing classes — Novice, Sporting, Super Sporting, and Legacy — pushed their limits on a 2.4-kilometer street circuit featuring 14 demanding turns, including hairpins and chicanes designed for maximum excitement. Each race kept the crowd on edge, proving why the TGR Philippine Cup is the ultimate arena for speed and skill.
A Dramatic Turn for TMP President
One of the weekend’s most talked-about moments came during the Novice Class race, when TMP President Masando Hashimoto, racing for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team, flipped his car after hitting the barriers. Thankfully, the Vios OMR (One-Make-Race) car’s reinforced safety features kept him completely unharmed.
“My Vios #4 flipped, but its cabin stayed completely intact—no scratches, no injuries. This is real proof of how tough and safe Toyota cars are,” shared President Hashimoto, praising Toyota’s commitment to building robust, protective vehicles.
Built to Race, Built for Safety
For 11 years, the Vios OMR has been the heart of the TGR Philippine Cup, built to endure both permanent and street circuits. Modified to racing standards with roll cages, racing seats, five-point harnesses, fireproof gear, and HANS devices, the Vios OMR continues to deliver not only performance but elite-level safety.
TMP applies the same philosophy to its production cars, featuring Toyota Safety Sense, multiple airbags, and advanced control systems that keep Filipino drivers safe on and off the track.
“Drive, Break, Fix” — The Toyota Way
TMP’s President echoed Toyota Global Chairman Akio Toyoda’s Mantra: “Drive, break, and fix.” This relentless cycle of improvement fuels Toyota’s global mission of developing better, safer cars through motorsports.
“Every crash teaches us something new. It’s how we push the limits to build better vehicles—and make racing accessible to more Filipinos,” Hashimoto added.
Race Meets Rock
Aside from the thrilling races, fans rocked out with Rico Blanco and Parokya ni Edgar on May 24, and Ely Buendia and Bamboo on May 25, making the event a true fusion of speed and sound.
Below is the full list of official winners of Race Weekend 2:
Novice Class Winners
Sporting Class Winners
A Glimpse of the Future: The Tamaraw Racing Concept
One major highlight was the debut of the Tamaraw Racing Concept, a reimagined version of the iconic Tamaraw Dropside, during the Drag Race Exhibition—highlighting Toyota’s bold approach to vehicle innovation.
More Than Just Racing: Toyota Drive Fest
The Toyota Drive Fest also brought out the brand’s full mobility lineup—GR and GR-S models, Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Tamaraw, and Lexus F SPORT—plus exclusive event promos, test drives, and certified pre-owned vehicle displays under T-SURE.
Legacy Class Winners
RACE 1: SPRINT RACE 3
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Pablo Salapantan | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 2 | Ian Magbanua | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 3 | John Rey San Diego | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Russel Reyes | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines |
| 2 | Jesse Garcia | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 3 | Bernardus Corpino | Jordan Racing |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Joaquin Garrido | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 2 | Russel Cabrera | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 3 | Red Diwa | Toyota Isabela |
| LEGACY CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Oliver Aquino | Oyi Racing: A Tech 7 Project |
| 2 | Paolo Ang | Madkart – R Racing |
| 3 | Julian Colvin | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines |
RACE 2: SPRINT RACE 4
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Reph Bangsil | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 2 | Luis Moreno | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 3 | Masando Hashimoto | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Raymond Cudala | R Racing Team |
| 2 | Bernardus Corpino | Jordan Racing |
| 3 | Mike Santos | R Racing Team |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Jarond Mesina | Dash Racing x Era Autosport |
| 2 | Alain Gabriel Alzona | Toyota General Santos – Smart Communications Racing |
| 3 | Michael Brayan Co | R Garage/Toyota Dagupan Group |
| LEGACY CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Luigi Agustin Co | Gel Napat Racing – R Racing |
| 2 | JV Ejercito | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 3 | Andre Rodrigues | Oyi Racing |
RACE 3: SPRINT RACE 5
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Pablo Salapantan | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 2 | Ian Magbanua | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 3 | Masando Hashimoto | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Jesse Garcia | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 2 | Bernardus Corpino | Jordan Racing |
| 3 | Miguel Hernandez Abano | DrQ.Motorsports/Era Autosport |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Russel Cabrera | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 2 | Joaquin Garrido | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 3 | Michael Brayan Co | R Garage/Toyota Dagupan Group |
| LEGACY CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Oliver Aquino | Oyi Racing: A Tech 7 Project |
| 2 | Julian Colvin | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines |
| 3 | Paolo Ang | Madkart – R Racing |
Catch the final leg of the 2025 TGR Philippine Cup this August at Clark International Speedway. Follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok for updates.
TGR Philippine Cup 2025 is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines, with Petron as Official Fuel & Lubricants Partner and GT Radial as Official Tire Partner. Venue Partners include Villar City and Brittany. Also supported by Seiko, Toyota Financial Services, Tuason Racing, and many others who keep the wheels turning.
For more info, visit toyota.com.ph/tgrphilippines and follow TMP’s official pages.
