How Toyota Motor Philippines is bringing motorsport glamor closer to us all
The Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup is undoubtedly the country’s hottest and most prestigious motorsport event at the moment.
Not since the Subic touring-car championships of the 1990s have we seen a series that has consistently delivered top-caliber racing excitement that we can all enjoy. And it’s all thanks to Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), which has spent the last decade in not only making an awesome event, but also in building a springboard for Filipino racing talent.
After a successful first leg at Clark International Speedway (CIS) in Pampanga, the TGR Philippine Cup is heading back to the streets on May 24 to 25 with an elaborate track in Villar City, Cavite. We show you what you can expect in this exciting racing extravaganza.
All about the driver
GAZOO Racing is what Toyota now calls its motorsport division, which has been campaigning in various events globally since its introduction in 2007.
The company also spearheaded the development of Toyota’s latest high-performance models, including the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR86 and GR Supra. The TGR Philippine Cup is just one of several championships hosted by the Japanese carmaker, which is the largest in the country by some considerable margin, around the world.
As a one-make series, the fully identical Toyota Vios racing cars are powered by a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing around 110 horsepower. Special modifications include fully adjustable suspension, stripped-out interior, full roll cage, racing harness and bucket seat for optimal handling and maximum safety.
In other words, the TGR Philippine Cup is a battle of which driver and team can bring most out of their cars. For the 2025 season, the main classes include Novice, Sporting and Super Sporting, which are based on racing experience, while the new Legacy Class lets older Vios racing cars go head-to-head once more.
As before, the second leg of the series will likely feature two sprint races and 1.5-hour endurance race.
Street racing done right
Of course, the biggest news about the TGR Philippine Cup Leg 2 is the new location.
Although CIS remains to be the country’s best race track, TMP has invested heavily in the latest development named after the prominent Villar clan. Based on the track layout released by the carmaker, the circuit appears to have around 10 turns with tight sections located the ends of the two long straights.
And unlike the extremely dangerous illegal street races that often go viral online, the TGR Philippine Cup track will likely feature substantial alterations to put it in line with international motorsport guidelines for street circuits – those who have ever watched Formula 1 in Singapore or Monaco will recall the various barriers and speed breakers installed on regular city roads.
Expect to get close to the fender-to-fender action at the various grandstands situated around the sprawling property in Bacoor, while the Philippines’ hottest music acts cap off a heart-pounding race weekend. There will also likely be activity booths for the whole family, plus the chance to check out the latest Toyota models.
Tamaraw Racing?
The TGR Philippine Cup has long revolved around the Toyota Vios subcompact sedan, which has worn the crown of the country’s best-selling car several times.
However, TMP will float a new concept racer at the Villar City race this month. It isn’t based on the GR86 or the GR Supra sports cars, but on the Tamaraw utility vehicle that was launched locally last December 2024.
The idea isn’t totally far-fetched – this model is already being campaigned in the Super Pickup championship in Thailand, where it is known as the Hilux Champ. The racer there features a bucket seat, harness, roll cage, custom body kit, racing suspension, large rear wing and wider fenders to accommodate the high-performance wheels and tires.
Meanwhile, motivation is courtesy of an upgraded version of Toyota’s familiar 2.4-liter 2GD turbodiesel engine that gets a revamped air intake that feeds air into a new turbocharger, along with a custom exhaust system and updated fuel system. Power is fed to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox.
With the Villar City track and the upcoming Tamaraw racer, it looks like the TGR Philippine Cup will maintain its lead as the country’s best racing series for many, many years to come.
