Victor Ancheta, Enzo Ison and Matthew Ang round up Team Philippines
The adrenaline-charged sixth season of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP)’s premier sim racing series — the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines eSports GT Championship (TGR GT Cup) — reached its thrilling conclusion last October 12 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, with Victor Ancheta emerging as this year’s new champion.
Drawing more than 20,000 spectators over the weekend, the event showcased the country’s best sim racers as they battled for glory, prizes, and the ultimate honor of representing the Philippines at the Asia Finals.
A Rising Star Takes the Crown
Newcomer Victor Ancheta made a stunning debut, rising through the ranks to seize the championship title. Out of more than 250 participants, Ancheta qualified third overall and consistently placed among the top racers throughout the quarterfinals, semifinals, and national finals.
Following closely behind, 2024 runner-up and Asia Finals representative Enzo Ison secured 2nd Place, while 2023 podium finisher Matthew Ang took 3rd Place, completing Team Philippines for the upcoming international showdown.
High-Speed Action from Start to Finish
The quarterfinals saw the top 40 racers divided into four groups of ten, competing on Dragon Tail Gardens aboard the GR Yaris High Performance ’20. After three intense race heats featuring time trials, reverse grids, and strategic restarts, Ison, Ang, and Jether Miole topped the leaderboards.
The semifinals brought together the top 20 racers in a reset battle of skill and strategy. Racers tackled Mount Panorama and the Red Bull Ring with the Toyota GR Supra Race Car 19 Gr. 4, before facing tire wear and fuel challenges at the Daytona International Speedway. Miole dominated the semis, with Ang and Ison close behind.
To raise the stakes, TGR Philippines introduced a surprise Wild Card Round, offering eight racers a second shot at the finals — joined by former champions Luis Moreno (2024) and Russel Reyes (2023). In a fierce display of racing prowess, James Lopez emerged victorious, securing the 11th and final slot for the national finals.
Final Showdown: Speed Meets Strategy
The national finals featured 11 racers competing across three tracks and cars:
- Toyota Supra Racing Concept ’18 on Kyoto Driving Park – Yamagiwa
- Toyota GR Yaris on Colorado Springs
- Toyota GR010 Hybrid on Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, under dynamic weather conditions
With tire wear and fuel consumption active, racers needed both speed and strategy to secure points.
Ison captured the first race win, followed by Ancheta and Miole. Ang roared back in the second race to claim victory, while the final showdown saw a nail-biting finish between Ancheta and Michael Velasquez, with Velasquez stealing the win in a daring last-lap overtake.
After tallying the points, Victor Ancheta was crowned TGR Philippines eSports GT Championship 2025 Champion with 72 points, ahead of Ison (67.5 points) and Ang (61.5 points).
Special awards were also handed out:
- Crowd Favorite: Victor Ancheta
- Best Overtake: Jether Miole
- Smooth Operator: Enzo Ison
- Pole Position Award: Matthew Ang
Road to the Asia Finals
Reflecting on his victory, Ancheta shared,
“I’m happy and honored to win the championship. Representing the Philippines at the Asia Finals is a dream come true, and I’m excited to compete against the best drivers in the region.”
Ison added,
“It feels amazing to be back on the podium and represent the country once again in Thailand. I’m hoping for another great race for Team Philippines!”
Ang shared,
“Although I was aiming for the top spot, I’m grateful for this opportunity. I can’t wait to face my old competitors again and show how much I’ve improved.”
Ancheta, Ison, and Ang will proudly represent Team Philippines at the Asia Finals in Thailand on November 23, 2025.
Racing Beyond Limits
The TGR Philippines eSports GT Championship 2025 is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines, with Petron as the Official Fuel & Lubricants Partner and GT Radial as the Official Tire Partner.
The event is supported by Seiko, Toyota Financial Services Philippines, Tuason Racing, AVT, 3M, Denso, OMP, ROTA, Autoplus, PIAA, Vinyl Frog, AutoQuix, Sparco, myTOYOTA Wallet, and Kinto One.
Aspiring racers can follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates on the next season. Stay connected with Toyota Motor Philippines for the latest news, products, and events through their social media channels and Viber community (Toyota PH).
