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| The winners and special award recipients of the first race weekend of the TOYOTA GAZOO RACING Philippine Cup (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Toyota Motor Philippines) |
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently kicked off the 10th season of its motorsports program with the first race weekend of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup). The thrill-filled event saw thousands of spectators at the Clark International Speedway as more than 30 racers battled it out on track for the sprint and endurance races. During the opening ceremony, TMP President Masando Hashimoto revealed that he would be participating as a racer under the Novice Class – a new circuit racing class that gathers winners and top performers from the Autocross Challenge. He was joined by influencers Lexi Mendiola and Reph Bangsil; media racers Jamil Lacuna, Jose Altoveros, Pablo Salapantan and John Ray San Diego; and sim racer Russel Reyes.
Seasoned racers under the Promotional, Sporting, and Super Sporting classes also returned to the track to bring adrenaline-pumping action with 2024 newcomers. The morning saw racers driving under sunny skies while the afternoon was met with rain showers. The differing weather conditions put both racers and cars to the test, providing fans with high-octane wheel-to-wheel battles. For the first race weekend, two sprint races and one endurance race were held. Here is the full list of winners:
RACE 1: SPRINT RACE 1
NOVICE CLASS
1st Place: Jamil Lacuna, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2nd Place: Russel Reyes, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3rd Place: Jose Altoveros, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
1st Place: Bong Garbes, Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
2nd Place: Rex AbrenillaToyota Team Cebu
3rd Place: Johndale Dy, Toyota Team Cebu
SPORTING CLASS
1st Place: Jiro Garbes, Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
2nd Place: Jarond Mesina, Toyota Team Cebu
3rd Place: Danzel Waytan, JD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
1st Place: Red Diwa, JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela
2nd Place: Iñigo Anton, Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
3rd Place: Russel Cabrera, Toyota Team Cebu
RACE 2: SPRINT RACE 2
NOVICE CLASS
1st Place: Russel Reyes, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2nd Place: Jamil Lacuna, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3rd Place: John Rey San Diego, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
1st Place: Julia Delos Angeles, Toyota Marilao/San Jose Del Monte – Obengers Racing Team
2nd Place: Bong Garbes, Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
3rd Place: Rex Abrenilla, Toyota Team Cebu
SPORTING CLASS
1st Place: Jay Lao, Happy Hotels Racing Team
2nd Place: Danzel Waytan, JD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc
3rd Place: Carlo Suarez, Toyota Team Cebu
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
1st Place: Russel Cabrera, Toyota Team Cebu
2nd Place: Mikey Keilani Jordan, Jordan Racing
3rd Place: Iñigo Anton, Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
RACE 3: ENDURANCE RACE 1
NOVICE CLASS
1st Place: Russel Reyes, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2nd Place: Jamil Lacuna, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3rd Place: Lexi Mendiola, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
1st Place: Julia Delos Angeles, Toyota Marilao/San Jose Del Monte – Obengers Racing Team
2nd Place: Bong Garbes, Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
3rd Place: Rex Abrenilla, Toyota Team Cebu
SPORTING CLASS
1st Place: Danzel Waytan, JD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc
2nd Place: Jarond Mesina, Toyota Team Cebu
3rd Place: Carlo Suarez, Toyota Team Cebu
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
1st Place: Iñigo Anton, Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
2nd Place: Russel Cabrera, Toyota Team Cebu
3rd Place: Ian Rosales, Toyota Team Cebu
Four-wheeled showstoppers were also spotted on track as car club members took to the speedway their GR performance vehicles for the Car Club Track Day. This was followed by a driving exhibition by drifters Hanz Jimenez and Dane Cruz. A select few from the public were also given the exciting opportunity to ride shotgun and experience being drifted on the track. Freebies were also up for grabs at the sponsors’ booths and TGR GT Cup experience booth. The race weekend was capped by performances by Filipino band Autotelic, raffles for the public, and the succeeding awarding of winners.
The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup is brought to you by Official Fuel Parter Petron and Official Tire Partner GT Radial and in cooperation with Official Timekeeper Seiko. This event is also supported by Toyota Financial Services Philippines, myTOYOTA Wallet, Denso, AVT, 3M, ROTA, Tuason Racing, OMP, and Kinto One. Racing fans can look forward to the second race weekend of the TGR Philippine Cup on September 28, 2024 for more exhilarating action.
