Got a PS4? Gear up for the GR Supra GT Cup Asia-PH this July

MANILA: No real-life motorsports? No problem. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is leveraging the power of the digital medium to capture the familiar waku-doki (heart-pumping excitement) – particularly of its grassroots-level event Vios Racing Festival (VRF) – with the Philippine staging of the GR Supra GT Cup Asia.

Through the event (to kick off this month), TMP dips its toes for the first time in e-motorsports. The competition is organized under Toyota’s global Gazoo Racing brand, and the company said in a release that “the virtual racing tournament aims to find the Philippines’ top esports racers who will represent the country in the Asian Regional Round in the last quarter of this year.”

TMP’s long-running VRF one-make-race’s 2020 calendar had been nixed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the GR Supra Cup Asia takes its place, albeit online, bannering the brand’s premier sports car.

Tuason Racing School (TRS) has been tapped to help stage the esporting event which boasts two classes: Promotional (for novice drivers with no professional esports background), and Sporting (for intermediate and professional e-racers). Qualified to join are Filipino gamers aged 18 and above, who will be pitted against other participants for a chance to represent the country against competitors from Asia Pacific countries in the GR Supra GT Cup Asia Regional Round.

How does it work? Responding to a question from ZIGWHEELS, the minimum requirements, according to JP Tuason of TRS, is a PlayStation 4 console, a Gran Turismo Sport game, and decent internet service. Underscoring how easy it is to join, Tuason said that a second-hand gaming console might cost P9,000, then the game itself around P1,000. The participant also needs to register to the PlayStation Network (which will require a valid credit card, which won’t be charged). “That’s why we have an 18-and-above requirement,” he shared.

Tuason said he and the rest of the organizers are aware of internet speed limitations in many parts of the country, so the events will be held at night when bandwidth is typically better. A faster connection also guarantees that participants won’t be disconnected from the game.

“The qualifying rounds will start this July and will be concluded with the grand finals in August, in time for the regional competition towards the latter part of the year. To join, interested players may checkout the complete mechanics and register online via toyota.com.ph/gtcup,” said TMP.

A separate class for media and celebrity partners will be created based on a different selection process by TMP. A Junior Class, where racers below 18 years old can join, will also be opened, but winners cannot qualify for the regional round in compliance with international tournament rules.

TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto said, “This e-motorsports program will not only continue Toyota’s racing legacy, but will also discover the Philippines’ top esports talents. We are very excited to find them so they can represent the country in our international races.”

The company also announced its support to frontliners who have been working tirelessly to keep road safety in check. “Our motorsports programs have always been linked with our responsible driving and road safety advocacy. The GR Supra GT Cup is no different,” declared  TMP Executive Vice President Kei Mizuguchi. “We are encouraging our racers and livestream viewers to donate any amount to be used for to provide food packs for military, police and medical frontliners deployed to man our highways and checkpoints. TMP will match the donation from racers and viewers to reach out to more frontliners. It’s our simple way of helping and thanking them for keeping us safe on the road during these challenging times.”

For more information, visit www.toyota.com.ph or check out Toyota’s official social media pages at ToyotaMotorPhilippines (Facebook and Instagram), and @ToyotaMotorPH (Twitter).

Graphic from Toyota Motor Philippines

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