Team Toyota PH to start Gazoo Racing GT Cup Asia quest starting this weekend

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is inviting Filipinos to support the country’s flagbearers in their quest upcoming Toyota Gazoo Racing Gran Turismo (TGR GT) Cup 2022 Asia Regional Finals.

The leading automotive manufacturer in the country said that it will have the competition livestreamed on Saturday (October 29), 6 p.m., Philippine time via Toyota Motor Philippines and Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Facebook pages.

Those who will show their support by watching and posting their cheers during the broadcast have the chance to win exciting prizes.

According to TMP, the Philippine team (made up of Estefano Rivera, Russel Reyes, and Topher Tejada) have been preparing for the virtual races where they have to face their counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

TMP shared that the trio earned their spots in the regional round of the race series after finishing the rounds of the TGR GT Cup Philippines 2022 at the podium. Rivera finished the Sporting Class in first place, with Russel coming right behind him. Meanwhile, Topher claimed the victory in the Promotional Class.

TMP said that Team Toyota Philippines roster has a lot of potential as the three representatives came from different but all competitive motorsports backgrounds.

Rivera, before participating in the e-racing league, was at the actual tracks gunning it out with some of the fastest drivers in the country. In 2021, he was hailed as the 2021 Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup Super Sporting Class champion and prior to that, he also won the 2018 National Gymkhana and was the Slalom King at the 2019 National Slalom Championship.

Reyes started his e-motorsport career in 2019 and has already won numerous titles both locally and abroad. Aside from the TGR GT Cup, Russel joined in other e-motorsports competitions like the GSR E-Motorsports Series and Asian Endurance Series 2021.

Unlike the two, Tejada was a newbie with the TGR GT Cup 2022 serving as his debut in the e-motorsport world. While he has battle it out with racers who have joined long before he did, he showed that he has the heart and the skills to win by immediately joining the winners’ podium at third place in the last round of the local rounds before climbing up the leaderboard and finishing first under the Promotional Class at the National Round.

Asia finals tournament format

TMP explained that the Asia Regional Round will have two portions: the semifinals, and finals. For the semifinals, 20 players will compete in three groups, racing at the virtual Fuji International Speedway using the GR Yaris.

Only the top five racers from each group will be able to proceed in the three-round final race, which will start at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with the GR Supra 20, followed by the competition on the Nürburgring GP using the GR Supra GT4 and ending the series at Circuit De La Sarthe in France with the GR010 Hybrid Hypercar.

Each country’s race car will sport a design expressing the fun and colorful cultures of the country. For one, Team Toyota Philippines’ in-game race car will be dressed in a special livery inspired by the Philippine flag. Designed by Filipino graphic artist Nez Yumul, the livery features banderitas reminiscent of Philippine festivals in the colors of red, yellow, blue, and white.

Further, Team Toyota Philippines is supported by its official connectivity provider, PLDT Enterprise.

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines

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