Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) brought its premier motorsports program back to its roots at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga, with the staging of the Vios Racing Festival last July 8.
The event saw veterans and newbies converging at the track with celebrities, racing teams, and car club members, Toyota owners, and motoring media competing in two exciting formats: Autocross Challenge and Circuit Championship. The Autocross Challenge is a timed competition wherein drivers navigate an obstacle course one at a time, while the Circuit Championship is the classic format where drivers have to complete a predetermined number of laps in the shortest time.
| Photo from Toyota Press
“Today, we witness the first leg of the Vios Circuit Championship. This event will be the first time that the All-New Vios One Make Race model is going to be tested at the circuit tracks since its appearance as the official pace car in Filinvest, Alabang last 2018. I hope that you are all as thrilled as I am to see the All-New Vios in action,” said TMP President Satoru Suzuki as he formally opened the competition.
Talk about a grand entrance. TMP President Satoru Suzuki drives arrives in the 2019 Toyota Supra | Photo from Toyota Press
Surprise appearance
Vios Racing Festival also became the venue for a sneak peek of the new Toyota Supra in action. Suzuki personally drove the highly-anticipated Supra on the speedway to the delight of the event attendees.
“As our way of saying “thank you” for coming all the way here at the Clark International Speedway, I am very honored to announce that you are now among the first in Southeast Asia to see the 2019 Toyota Supra in the metal,” said Suzuki.
| Photo from Toyota Press
This year, there are three (3) categories for the Vios Circuit Championship: Sporting Class Promotional Class, and Celebrity Class – participated in by a total of 22 racers.
For the Celebrity Class, fans and spectators saw Vios endorser Gerald Anderson racing with Chie Filomeno, Gretchen Ho, Daniel Matsunaga, Aubrey Miles, and Troy Montero. Former celebrity racer Fabio Ide advanced to the Promotional Class.
For the Autocross Challenge, Toyota continued its push for a more inclusive and accessible motorsports program by inviting Toyota owners – even those with no prior racing experience – to join the online contest via its official Facebook account. Winners were given a chance to be part of more than 50 Autocross racers who experienced the power and performance of the OMR Vios race car.
Celebrity winners for Race 1: Daniel Matsunaga (1st), Aubrey Miles (2nd), and Gretchen Ho (3rd) | Photo from Toyota Press
Here’s the complete list of winners:
AUTOCROSS CHALLENGE |
||
Car Club/ Vios Owners Class | ||
Rank | Name | Official Time |
1 | Carlos Iñigo Anton | 00:49.99 |
2 | Mickie Carbonel | 00:52.65 |
3 | Alexis Lavapie | 00:53.02 |
Influencers Class | ||
Rank | Name | Official Time |
1 | Vince Vandorpe | 00:54.49 |
2 | Phytos Ramirez | 00:56.83 |
3 | Reph Bangsil | 00:57.06 |
Media Class | ||
Rank | Name | Official Time |
1 | Jose Luis Altoveros (Autoindustriya) | 00:53.05 |
2 | Jeff Soberon (MPTurbo) | 00:54.05 |
3 | Matt Mallari (STV) | 00:55.15 |
CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 1 |
||
Celebrity Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | Daniel Matsunaga | Toyota Motor Philippines |
2 | Aubrey Miles | Toyota Motor Philippines |
3 | Gretchen Ho | Toyota Motor Philippines |
Promotional Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | Francis Adriano | Obengers / Toyota San Jose Del Monte |
2 | Julian Tang | Obengers / Toyota Otis |
3 | Elysse Menorca | Obengers / Toyota North EDSA |
Sporting Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | John Dizon | Obengers / Toyota Marilao |
2 | Gel Napat | Team Biskeg / Toyota Dagupan |
3 | Red Diwa | Growl Thule Racing |
CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 2 |
||
Celebrity Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | Troy Montero | Toyota Motor Philippines |
2 | Gretchen Ho | Toyota Motor Philippines |
3 | Daniel Matsunaga | Toyota Motor Philippines |
Promotional Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | Francis Adriano | Obengers / Toyota San Jose Del Monte |
2 | Julian Neri | Toyota Cebu |
3 | Fabio Ide | Toyota Motor Philippines |
Sporting Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | Eggy Ong | JBT Racing / Toyota San Fernando |
2 | Red Diwa | Growl Thule Racing |
3 | Lord Seno | Toyota Cebu |
CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 3 |
||
Celebrity Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | Troy Montero | Toyota Motor Philippines |
2 | Gretchen Ho | Toyota Motor Philippines |
3 | Aubrey Miles | Toyota Motor Philippines |
Promotional Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | Julian Tang | Obengers / Toyota Otis |
2 | Elysse Menorca | Obengers / Toyota North EDSA |
3 | Francis Adriano | Obengers / Toyota San Jose Del Monte |
Sporting Class | ||
Rank | Name | Team |
1 | Lord Seno | Toyota Cebu |
2 | John Dizon | Obengers / Toyota Marilao |
3 | Gel Napat | Team Biskeg / Toyota Dagupan |
The next legs of the Vios Racing Festival are scheduled for August and November also at the Clark International Speedway.
For more updates on Toyota events, visit www.toyota.com.ph or follow the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorPhilippines.