Excitement, drama fill TGR PH 2024 season opener

MANILA: Excitement filled the season opener of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup).

The first race weekend for the 10th season of Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) motorsport program (then known as Vios Cup) last July 13 saw more than 30 racers at the track for the sprint and endurance competitions.

TMP President Masando Hashimoto took part in the program being racing under the Novice Class (the latest division under circuit racing) alongside winners and top performers from the Autocross Challenge such as influencers Lexi Mendiola and Reph Bangsil, media racers Jamil Lacuna, Jose Altoveros, Pablo Salapantan and John Ray San Diego, as well as sim racer Russel Reyes.

Meanwhile, new and seasoned drivers jostled for position at the Promotional, Sporting, and Super Sporting classes.

The shift in weather (from sunny in the morning and rain showers in the afternoon) provided an additional challenge to all participants and resulted in wheel-to-wheel battles that fans got to enjoy.

Below is the list of podium finishers at the races last weekend:

Race 1: Sprint Race 1

Novice Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Jamil Lacuna	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH
2	Russel Reyes	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH
3	Jose Altoveros	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH

 

Promotional Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Bong Garbes	Inbox-Toyota San Fernando
2	Rex Abrenilla	Toyota Team Cebu
3	Johndale Dy	Toyota Team Cebu

 

Sporting Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Jiro Garbes	Inbox-Toyota San Fernando
2	Jarond Mesina	Toyota Team Cebu
3	Danzel Waytan	JD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc

 

Super Sporting Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Red Diwa	JBT Racing/Toyota Isabela
2	Iñigo Anton	Toyota Balintawak-Obengers Racing Team
3	Russel Cabrera	Toyota Team Cebu

 

Race 2: Sprint Race 2

Novice Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Russel Reyes	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH
2	Jamil Lacuna	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH
3	John Rey San Diego	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH

 

Promotional Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Julia Delos Angeles	Toyota Marilao/San Jose Del Monte-Obengers Racing Team
2	Bong Garbes	Inbox-Toyota San Fernando
3	Rex Abrenilla	Toyota Team Cebu

 

Sporting Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Jay Lao	Happy Hotels Racing Team
2	Danzel Waytan	JD Motorsport-Ribbon Arc
3	Carlo Suarez	Toyota Team Cebu

 

Super Sporting Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Russel Cabrera	Toyota Team Cebu
2	Mikey Keilani Jordan	Jordan Racing
3	Iñigo Anton	Toyota Balintawak-Obengers Racing Team

 

Race 3: Endurance Race 1

Novice Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Russel Reyes	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH
2	Jamil Lacuna	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH
3	Lexi Mendiola	Toyota Gazoo Racing PH

 

Promotional Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Julia Delos Angeles	Toyota Marilao/San Jose Del Monte-Obengers Racing Team
2	Bong Garbes	Inbox-Toyota San Fernando
3	Rex Abrenilla	Toyota Team Cebu

 

Sporting Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Danzel Waytan	JD Motorsport-Ribbon Arc
2	Jarond Mesina	Toyota Team Cebu
3	Carlo Suarez	Toyota Team Cebu

 

Super Sporting Class
Rank	Name	Team
1	Iñigo Anton	Toyota Balintawak-Obengers Racing Team
2	Russel Cabrera	Toyota Team Cebu
3	Ian Rosales	Toyota Team Cebu

 Aside from the races, the track was also opened to car club members for a track day followed by an exhibition by drifters Hanz Jimenez and Dane Cruz.

Some of those who went to the Clark International Speedway were given the chance to ride shotgun and experience being drifted on the track. Freebies were handed over at the sponsors’ booths and TGR GT Cup experience booth.

Capping the race weekend were the performance from Autotelic, raffle for the public, and the awarding of winners.

The next race weekend is set on September 28, 2024.

Also read:

Toyota Motor PH opens Gazoo Racing Academy Class 2024

Zigwheels, Carmudi end Toyota GR Vios Cup 2023 season with podium finishes

Toyota PH announces return of Vios Cup, GT Cup this year