2023 Toyota Gazoo Racing PH season begins; Zigwheels PH's Patricia Tenorio wins Vios Cup Autocross Challenge

MANILA: Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) wrapped up the first round of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Gran Turismo Cup Philippines (TGR GT Cup PH) 2023 on June 28 and and the first of three legs of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup (TGR Vios Cup) 2023 on July 1.

TGR GT Cup PH 2023

E-motorsport enthusiasts from all around the Philippines gathered to watch the first of the 2023 TGR GT Cup PH's three qualifying rounds. The first round featured the Tsukuba Circuit racetrack and the Toyota GR 86 as the sim car.

This season, both seasoned e-racers and rookies took part in the TGR GT Cup. The winners of the first round were David Enzo Ison for the Junior Class, Stanley Theodore Golez for the Promotional Class, and Luis Moreno for the Sporting Class.

In the Junior Class, Joshua David Marquez and Russo Grabriel Formoso finished second and third, respectively, while in the Promotional Class, Deigo Herrera and Benedict Salido finished just behind Golez. Russel Reyes and Matthew Spencer Ang finished in second and third place, respectively, in the Sporting Class.

The second round of this year’s TGR GT Cup PH will be held on Friday, July 14, and will be livestreamed on Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Facebook page at 7 p.m. Interested participants for the third and final local round may still register at toyota.com.ph/gtcup. Participants must be equipped with a Sony PlayStation 4 or 5, with an active PSN Account and PS Plus Subscription.

TGR Vios Cup 2023

Motorsports fans cheered in the grandstand of Clark International Speedway (CIS) for their favorite racers and teams during the first leg of the 2023 TGR Vios Cup.

“Racers, racing teams, fans, supporters, we are all part of our growing Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines family. We thank you for always being part of the Vios Cup’s long and exciting history, and we hope to see you as we elevate this program even more in the future – especially now that we are entering an era of carbon neutrality in motorsports,” TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto stated during the event.

The Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV made its TGR Vios Cup debut during the opening round. The Toyota Corolla Altis GR-S HEV, also known as the Hybrid Electric Racer, was used as the safety car for this season.

Team Toyota Cebu ruled the Circuit Championship races with Jarond Mesina and Ian Rosales winning the Promotional and Super Sporting classes, respectively. Toyota Balintawak Inc. - Obengers Racing Team's Bern Corpino claimed the championship in the Sporting Class.

Mesina was followed by Bong Garbes of Inbox Toyota San Fernando and Alain Alzona of Toyota General Santos - Chooks-to-Go Racing on the Promotional podium in second and third, respectively. The second and third spots in the Sporting Class went to Michael Keilani Jordan and Maila Alivia, while Gerard Loy and Bryan Co of the R Racing Team rounded out the podium in the Super Sporting Class.

In the Autocross Challenge, Vios Cup rookie Patricia Tenorio of ZigWheels Philippines won the Media Promotional Class. Cesar Miguel of Philkotse and Riz Javier of Top Gear Philippines finished second and third, respectively.

Siegwald Go of C! Magazine claimed the top spot in the Media Sporting Class. Justin Young of Visor finished second, while John Rey San Diego of Autocar Philippines came in at third place.

Bianca Yao triumphed in the Promotional Influencer Class. Arriane Bautista and Apple David ranked second and third, respectively.

Miguel Romulo emerged as the champion in the Sporting Influencer Class. He was followed by Lexi Mendiola in second place and Reph Bangsil in third.

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines

Also read:

Here’s what makes the TGR Vios Cup special

Sunday school: 4 lessons we gained from the Toyota GR Academy PH

A stint at Suzuka for the Toyota GR GT Cup