Young Filipino Sim Racers Thailand Competition

Enzo Ison, Russel Reyes and Michael Velasquez to represent Philippines in 2026 TGR Asia Esports GT Championship

Enzo Ison, Russel Reyes, and Michael Velasquez will represent the Philippines at the 2026 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Asia Esports GT Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, after emerging among the top competitors at the National Finals of the 2026 TGR Philippines Esports GT Championship.

Held on September 27 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the National Finals brought together the top 10 players from the Sporting Class and the top 10 from the Junior Class. They were selected from more than 400 sim racers who participated in the qualifiers.

Below are the podium finishers of the National Finals:

The finalists went head-to-head in Gran Turismo, competing across four races that tested their racing skills, adaptability, and mastery of different cars and circuits.

Both categories faced four demanding rounds behind the wheel of distinct Toyota vehicles across various tracks. The races featured the GR Corolla at the real-world Autódromo de Interlagos in Brazil, the GR Yaris on the fictional dirt track Sardegna Windmills, the GR Supra at Spain’s technical Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and the GR010 Hybrid on Germany’s challenging Nürburgring. Unpredictable weather conditions during the third and fourth races added another layer of difficulty, turning the final legs into intense tests of endurance, strategy, and vehicle control.

Enzo Ison Dominates the Junior Class

In the Junior Class, Enzo Ison delivered a commanding performance throughout all four rounds.

Ison secured pole position at Interlagos in Race 1 and controlled the pace from start to finish to claim the victory. In Race 2 at Sardegna Windmills, he started fifth under the reverse-grid format and climbed to second place by the fourth lap. He then prevailed in a thrilling three-car battle against Samuel Rey Icalia and Chester Jordan Ilog to take another win.

At Barcelona, Ison remained composed despite several spins on the track, leading every lap to secure a convincing 17-second victory.

The final race at the Nürburgring presented his toughest challenge. A miscalculated turn dropped him to eighth place as Ilog established a 10-second lead. Ison responded with an aggressive comeback, reclaiming the top position on Lap 4 before crossing the finish line 54 seconds ahead to complete an impressive four-race campaign.

Sporting Class Delivers an Intense Championship Battle

The Sporting Class produced an equally exciting showdown, with Russel Reyes and Luis Antonio Moreno battling for the lead across multiple races.

At Interlagos, Reyes held off Moreno’s dramatic challenge at the final corner. He followed this with another display of defensive driving during the closing lap at Barcelona.

In Race 2 at Sardegna Windmills, Michael Velasquez took advantage of the reverse-grid format to hold the lead from the opening lap. Reyes, meanwhile, worked his way up from fifth to second place but was unable to complete the overtake.

The final race at the Nürburgring saw Victor Ancheta surge ahead late in the opening lap and build a 10-second advantage through an extended pit strategy. However, a penalty pushed Ancheta down to sixth place, allowing Reyes to regain control and secure the win by 17 seconds over the rest of the field.

“It was inspiring to see our finalists push themselves lap after lap at the National Finals. The enthusiasm around sim racing in the country keeps growing, and it shows how many Filipinos share the thrill and joy of motorsports,” said Sherwin Chua-Lim, Senior Vice President for Marketing Division at Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP).

Three Drivers Earn Spots on Team Philippines

Ison and Reyes each received PHP 100,000 in cash prizes and secured places in the Asia Finals as champions of their respective classes.

Velasquez, who finished as the Sporting Class runner-up with the second-highest points total in his category, earned the third slot on Team Philippines. He also received a PHP 75,000 cash prize.

“To Enzo, Russel, and Michael, we wish you the best of luck as you carry the Philippine flag in Bangkok. We are behind you as you go out there and push the limits for better,” Chua-Lim added.

Ison Sets His Sights on Another Strong Asia Finals Campaign

Reflecting on his Junior Class victory and his upcoming international campaign, 16-year-old Ison expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the country once again.

“I feel really great and thankful for winning in the Junior Class and having the chance to represent the country for the third time. The preparations that we made for this have certainly paid off once again. This year, we will train harder than ever to get the best results for the Asia Finals,” Ison shared.

Ison previously represented the Philippines at the Asia Finals in 2024 and 2025. He finished second overall in the Philippine National Finals in both 2024 and 2025, following Junior Class championship victories in 2022 and 2023.

Outside sim racing, Ison currently competes in the Tamaraw Class of the TGR Philippine Cup as part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Team.

Reyes Returns Stronger for the Regional Competition

For 25-year-old Reyes, winning the Sporting Class marks a rewarding return to competition and an opportunity to demonstrate how much he has developed as a racer.

“I feel really great about winning the Sporting Class this year. I felt like I had improved from how I was when I previously joined. Being gone for a year gave me a chance to reset and rethink how I race. I think this played a huge role in securing the win. I’m also honored to be one of the drivers to represent the Philippines in the Asia Regional finals. I feel very comfortable and prepared to race against other nations, after learning from my many mistakes from the past. I can feel that I am a stronger sim racer than ever,” Reyes said.

A veteran of the regional competition, Reyes previously represented the Philippines at the Asia Finals in 2022, 2023, and 2024. His previous achievements include third place overall in the Philippine National Finals in 2024, the overall championship in 2023, and the Sporting Class runner-up finish in 2022.

Velasquez Embraces His First Asia Finals Appearance

For Velasquez, the upcoming competition marks his first appearance at the Asia Finals. He is looking forward to learning alongside his fellow Philippine representatives and growing as part of the team.

“It’s an honor to represent Team Philippines after finishing P2 in Sporting Class and the third most overall points in the TGR Philippines GT Esports Championship 2026. I’m really ecstatic to work together alongside Russel and Enzo and I look forward to us learning from each other and growing as a team,” Velasquez shared.

Ison, Reyes, and Velasquez will face top sim racers from across the region at the 2026 TGR Asia Esports GT Championships, scheduled for November 14–15, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand. The three Filipino representatives will carry the country’s hopes as they compete for regional honors on the international esports racing stage.