Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently concluded the second of three race weekends of the 2025 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup). The premier motorsports event saw more than 12,000 attendees experience the thrill of various racing and driving activities on the streets from May 23 to 25 just south of Manila in Villar City.
Racers in four classes — Novice, Sporting, Super Sporting, and Legacy — went wheel-to-wheel in three circuit races over the weekend in the 2.4-kilometer street circuit. The makeshift circuit had 14 turns, including two hairpins and six chicanes, providing exciting track action for spectators.
TMP President Masando Hashimoto, who races for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team, shook the crowd in the last laps of the Novice Class circuit race when he hit the barriers and overturned. He was able to evacuate his Vios one-make-race (OMR) car promptly and came out of the incident without any injuries.
“My car flipped upside down and became immobilized. While the tires and engine sustained significant damage from the impact, the cabin remained intact and completely clear, allowing me to escape without even a scratch. I lost my beloved Vios #4, but it saved my life. We racers experience crashes all the time, many times, which is part of racing, but I have seen firsthand the wonderful fact that Toyota cars are safe, robust, and keep the drivers protected,” President Hashimoto shared.
TMP has been utilizing the Vios OMR especially converted for the TGR Philippine Cup (previously Vios Cup) for 11 years now, where it has been subjected to various racing conditions both in permanent and street circuits. It has been modified to fit racing standards, which includes the installation of a roll cage and racing seat with 5-point seat belts to ensure the safety of the racer. Racers use fireproof racing suits, gloves, and helmets with Head and Neck Support (HANS) devices.
TGR, TMP’s motorsports arm, is committed to ‘pushing the limits for better’ through vehicle development in controlled environments. The TGR Philippine Cup, moreover, is conducted under the supervision of the Automobile Association Philippines to ensure the racetrack is compliant with safety standards.
“Toyota Global Chairman Akio Toyoda always emphasizes the importance of ‘driving, breaking, and fixing’ in vehicle development. By repeatedly driving and breaking cars in the race environment, he discovers further areas for improvement and strengthens the cars as a master driver. Based on this corporate mantra, Toyota will continue to pursue safer vehicle manufacturing and accessible racing in the future,” added Hashimoto.
Eventgoers were also treated to various motorsports events, including a drifting exhibition featuring the Toyota 86 and a drag race exhibition featuring the Tamaraw Racing Concept, a modified Tamaraw Dropside truck. There were also musical performances by OPM rock stars Rico Blanco and Parokya ni Edgar on May 24, and Ely Buendia and Bamboo on May 25.
RACE WINNERS
RACE 1: SPRINT RACE 3
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Pablo Salapantan | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 2 | Ian Magbanua | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 3 | John Rey San Diego | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Russel Reyes | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines |
| 2 | Jesse Garcia | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 3 | Bernardus Corpino | Jordan Racing |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Joaquin Garrido | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 2 | Russel Cabrera | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 3 | Red Diwa | Toyota Isabela |
| LEGACY CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Oliver Aquino | Oyi Racing: A Tech 7 Project |
| 2 | Paolo Ang | Madkart – R Racing |
| 3 | Julian Colvin | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines |
RACE 2: SPRINT RACE 4
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Reph Bangsil | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 2 | Luis Moreno | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 3 | Masando Hashimoto | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Raymond Cudala | R Racing Team |
| 2 | Bernardus Corpino | Jordan Racing |
| 3 | Mike Santos | R Racing Team |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Jarond Mesina | Dash Racing x Era Autosport |
| 2 | Alain Gabriel Alzona | Toyota General Santos – Smart Communications Racing |
| 3 | Michael Brayan Co | R Garage/Toyota Dagupan Group |
| LEGACY CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Luigi Agustin Co | Gel Napat Racing – R Racing |
| 2 | JV Ejercito | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 3 | Andre Rodrigues | Oyi Racing |
RACE 3: SPRINT RACE 5
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Pablo Salapantan | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 2 | Ian Magbanua | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| 3 | Masando Hashimoto | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Novice Team |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Jesse Garcia | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 2 | Bernardus Corpino | Jordan Racing |
| 3 | Miguel Hernandez Abano | DrQ.Motorsports/Era Autosport |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Russel Cabrera | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 2 | Joaquin Garrido | Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak |
| 3 | Michael Brayan Co | R Garage/Toyota Dagupan Group |
| LEGACY CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Oliver Aquino | Oyi Racing: A Tech 7 Project |
| 2 | Julian Colvin | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines |
| 3 | Paolo Ang | Madkart – R Racing |
The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and is brought to you by Official Fuel & Lubricants Partner Petron and Official Tire Partner GT Radial, in cooperation with Official Venue Partners Villar City and Brittany.
This event is also supported by Official Timekeeper Seiko, Toyota Financial Services Philippines, Tuason Racing, AVT, 3M, Denso, ROTA, PIAA, Autoplus, OMP, Bebang Halo-Halo, AutoQuix, and Kinto One.
The 2025 TGR Philippine Cup will be going back to the Clark International Speedway in August for the final race weekend (RW3).