Toyota Returns to Clark for Vios Racing Festival

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 Vios Racing Festival saw veterans and new faces meeting from the tracks up to the podium, with celebrities, racing teams, and car club members, Toyota owners, and motoring media taking it pedal-to-the-metal in two exciting formats: Autocross Challenge and Circuit Championship.

The Autocross Challenge is a timed competition wherein drivers navigate through an obstacle course one at a time; while the Circuit Championship is the classic format wherein all drivers are simultaneously competing against each other during laps--all using the One-Make Race (OMR) edition of the all-new Toyota Vios.

The OMR Vios racecar has been modified for optimum handling and performance given the two different racing formats.

"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.

Incidentally, the Vios Racing Festival also became the venue for car fans and motorsports enthusiasts to have a surprise sneak peek of the all-new Toyota Supra in action. Suzuki personally drove the highly-anticipated Supra on the speedway to the delight of the event attendees.

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"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.

This year, there are three 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.

And just like Toyota's past racing programs, the Vios Racing Festival is open to everyone who wants to watch the races and join the side activities--with no admission fees.

Here's the list of winners from the Vios Racing Festival Autocross Challenge and Circuit Championship races:

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 Toyota Vios Racing Festival is held in cooperation with Bridgestone; supported by Petron, Motul, and Rota; and other sponsors Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, OMP, and Tuason Racing. TMP’s premiere motorsports program is also supported by: Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota Racing School, and Toyota Racing Development.

The Vios Racing Festival will return to the Clark International Speedway for the second and third leg of the Circuit Championship in August and November respectively.

For more updates on Toyota events, visit TMP’s official website at www.toyota.com.ph and follow the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorPhilippines.