Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has concluded the 2024 season of its annual motorsports series, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup). Racing prodigy Iñigo Anton from Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team, back-to-back champ Alain Alzona from Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go Racing Team, consistent top performer Bong Garbes from Inbox – Toyota San Fernando, and sim racer turned circuit racer Russel Reyes from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH secured the win in their respective classes after three race weekends.
The final race weekend happened on November 9 and was followed by the awarding of the overall winners.
Drumbeaters greeted the audience during the opening program as TMP President Masando Hashimoto arrived in his Vios one-make-race (OMR) car. During the program, he shared how he had cut his business trip short so that he could fly back to Manila to participate in Race Weekend 3 of the TGR Philippine Cup.
“I wanted to meet the racers, mechanics, coaches and motorsports fans – this is my motivation for coming back. Today is the last race weekend of the TGR Philippine Cup, which will decide the season winners, so I wanted to say congratulations to them,” he said.
With tension high in the air and bigger points at stake, the Sprint Race for the Novice and Promotional classes went underway, with Lexi Mendiola and Johndale Dy in pole position for the Novice and Promotional classes, respectively. Grid positions were reversed based on the results of the previous sprint race.
After a heated battle which saw lots of contact on track, Pablo Salapantan came out on top for the Novice Class, followed by John Rey San Diego in second, and Russel Reyes in third. Bong Garbes, meanwhile, took the win in the Promotional Class, with Ryan Agoncillo, who led the second half of the race but was handed a one-place grid penalty after causing a collision, in second place. Dy rounded up the Promotional Class podium in third.
The Sprint Race for the Sporting and Super Sporting classes followed right after, with Danzel Waytan in pole position for the Sporting Class, and Royce Sarmiento for the Super Sporting Class.
Waytan managed to convert his pole position into a win by defending well against other racers in the Sporting Class. Jay Lao and Alain Alzona completed the podium in second and third, respectively.
In the Super Sporting Class, Russel Cabrera sealed his win after taking the lead into turn one and creating a gap to separate himself from the rest of the pack. Mikey Keilani Jordan followed in second after a tight battle with Iñigo Anton, who finished in third.
Professional drifters Dane Cruz and Hans Jimenez entertained the audience with a drifting exhibition and shotgun rides while waiting for the start of the Endurance Race. Members of GR Supra, GR Yaris and GR 86 car clubs also took to the track their super cars and even gave a few lucky people from the audience a hot lap ride around the speedway.
All the classes were grouped together for the Endurance Race, putting 34 racers on the grid. The Super Sporting Class made up the front of the grid, followed by the Sporting Class, Promotional Class, and the Novice Class. The starting grid was based on the finishing order of the sprint races.
The 1.5-hour race proved to be a challenge, with the hot temperatures putting a toll on both racers and cars. Racers are required to do a mandatory pit stop, so strategy was also key to getting an advantage in the race. Driven by the thrill of the competition, racers pushed their limits to try and secure a place on the podium for the Endurance Race.
Iñigo Anton emerged victorious after making his way to the front of the Super Sporting Class in a series of masterful overtakes. He is followed by Russel Cabrera in second, who led most of the first half of the race. Rounding up the podium was Maila Alivia in third.
In the Sporting Class, Alain Alzona took first place, with Jesse Garcia in second and Paolo Ayo in third.
Bong Garbes dominated the Promotional Class with a consistent drive. Julia Delos Angeles clinched a place on the podium after getting her elbows out and overtaking a few cars to finish second place. Ryan Agoncillo completed the podium in third.
The Novice Class saw Jamil Lacuna crossing the finish line in first place, followed by Reph Bangsil and Russel Reyes in second and third, respectively.
Below is the official list of winners for Race Weekend 3:
RACE 1: SPRINT RACE 5
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Jamil Lacuna | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 2 | Russel Reyes | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 3 | Pablo Salapantan | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| PROMOTIONAL CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Bong Garbes | Inbox – Toyota San Fernando |
| 2 | Mike Santos | R Racing Team |
| 3 | Miguel Abano | DRQ Motorsport |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Darrel Garbes | Inbox – Toyota San Fernando |
| 2 | Paolo Ayo | Paolo’s Cakes and Pastries – Edgesport Racing |
| 3 | Alain Alzona | Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go-Racing Team |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Red Diwa | JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela |
| 2 | Iñigo Anton | Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team |
| 3 | Maila Alivia | JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela |
RACE 2: SPRINT RACE 6
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Pablo Salapantan | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 2 | John Rey San Diego | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 3 | Russel Reyes | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| PROMOTIONAL CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Bong Garbes | Inbox – Toyota San Fernando |
| 2 | Ryan Agoncillo | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 3 | Johndale Dy | Toyota Team Cebu |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Danzel Waytan | JD Motorsports – Ribbon Arc |
| 2 | Jay Lao | Happy Hotels |
| 3 | Alain Alzona | Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go-Racing Team |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Russel Cabrera | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 2 | Mikey Keilani Jordan | Jordan Racing |
| 3 | Iñigo Anton | Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team |
RACE 3: ENDURANCE RACE 3
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Jamil Lacuna | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 2 | Reph Bangsil | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 3 | Russel Reyes | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| PROMOTIONAL CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Bong Garbes | Inbox – Toyota San Fernando |
| 2 | Julia Delos Angeles | Toyota San Jose Del Monte, Inc. – Obengers Racing Team |
| 3 | Ryan Agoncillo | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Alain Alzona | Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go-Racing Team |
| 2 | Jesse Garcia | Toyota North Edsa / Otis – Obengers Racing Team |
| 3 | Paolo Ayo | Paolo’s Cakes and Pastries – Edgesport Racing |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Iñigo Anton | Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team |
| 2 | Russel Cabrera | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 3 | Maila Alivia | JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela |
Capping off the race weekend was Filipino band, The Juans, who energized the crowd with their hit songs and lively stage presence.
With the conclusion of three race weekends, the 2024 season of the TGR Philippine Cup came to a close. Season winners were determined by the number of points collected from six sprint races and three endurance races.
“What an amazing TOYOTA GAZOO Racing season. Please give yourselves a round of applause. Congratulations!” TMP President Masando Hashimoto happily said as he greeted the racers and racing teams during the end-of-season awarding ceremony.
“Guided by Chairman Akio Toyoda’s WE LOVE CARS spirit, we can develop Philippine motorsports for the better. Because of you, we can bring motorsports closer to more Filipinos and share with them the FUN TO DRIVE experience,” he added.
The list of season winners for the 2024 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines can be found below:
2024 SEASON WINNERS
| NOVICE CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Russel Reyes | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 2 | Jamil Lacuna | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| 3 | John Rey San Diego | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH |
| PROMOTIONAL CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Bong Garbes | Inbox – Toyota San Fernando |
| 2 | Julia Delos Angeles | Toyota San Jose Del Monte, Inc. – Obengers Racing Team |
| 3 | Rex Abrenilla | Toyota Team Cebu |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Alain Alzona | Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go-Racing |
| 2 | Danzel Waytan | JD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc |
| 3 | Jarond Mesina | Toyota Team Cebu |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Rank | Name | Team |
| 1 | Iñigo Anton | Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team |
| 2 | Russel Cabrera | Toyota Team Cebu |
| 3 | Red Diwa | |
