Young E-sim racing prodigy got his juice from his dad
The Philippine delegates with Toyota PH President Masando Hashimoto and Toyota PH First Vice President Sherwin Chua-Lim.
Young Enzo Ison has now become a household name in the local e-racing community. After capturing once again the crown at the Junior Class at the recent National Finals of the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Esports GT Championship, the 16-year-old prodigy has secured his spot as truly one of the young legends of the sport.
For several years now, Enzo has been making a name for himself, particularly at the prestigious e-motorsports tournament led by Toyota Motor Philippines.
This season saw more than 400 sim racers across the country participate in the qualifiers, where players put in their fastest lap time around the Laguna Seca racetrack using the stock Toyota GR 86.
The TGR Philippines Esports GT Championship is the country’s premier sim racing tournament, which aims to provide aspiring racers with an avenue to kickstart their racing careers.
“Enzo, along with a few of them, has had an amazing career, so far, in racing,” shared TMP first vice president, Sherwin Chua-Lim during an interview after the national finals held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
“He is also now a TGR Cup driver. We discovered him in e-racing. Now, he is doing the actual race on the actual race track,” he then added.
Since the GR GT Cup was launched in 2020, it has been pioneering competitive sim racing in the country. As a grassroots tournament, the series also bridges the gap between sim racing and real-life racing by transitioning winners of the competition to TMP’s premier racing series, the TGR Philippine Cup (formerly known as the Vios.)
“I’m really thankful to Toyota for this opportunity. Of course, I’m also grateful to my dad who introduced me to the world of motorsports,” Enzo then divulged.
Apple didn’t fall from the tree
Enzo has topped the national tournaments and has proudly represented the country in the Asian Finals several times now. And one figure has strongly stood by him all this time–his father Ian, along with his family.
“We’re a family of five. Along with my wife, we have been supporting his journey all this time. And we are very proud of him,” the older Ison said.
“Since he was five years old he was already into racing,” he added.
According to him, Enzo was playing games on his i-Pad, he was just unstoppable.
“We just saw how incredible his passion was and we just supported it,” Ian continued, as he likewise had his son go into karting clinics and track days.
However, little did we know that Ian, himself, was once a car racer, as well.
“He really influenced me a lot,” the younger Ison meanwhile said of his father who used to race in time attacks at the now-defunct race track in Subic, Zambales.
“Racing is really in our blood,” he added.
“I raced in 2008 and 2009. But when I got married and my son was born, my priorities changed. But my race car was always just there,” Ian meanwhile then shared.
“Then, one day, after all those racing games, he tried the car, and that’s it. He further improved after. And there was no looking back.”
Eyes on the Asian Finals
With the Asian Finals looming these coming months, Enzo, together with his teammates, has set his eyes on the gold.
“It’s an honor to represent the country once again. Hopefully, with my teammates now, we will have a better chance for a podium spot or perhaps the crown,” he said.
The others joining him are Sporting Class champion Russel Reyes and runner-up Michael Vincent Velasquez.
Velasquez and Reyes were the top two scorers in the Sporting category of the competition, with 93.5 and 130.5 points, respectively. While Ison topped the Junior category with 130.5 points.
Reyes, who also represented the country 2023 at the Asian Finals, is out for revenge.
“I’m really preparing for this,” the 25-year-old university student said.
“This time, I’m focused, and really setting my eyes on the prize. Hopefully, we will finally get the win we deserve,” Reyes then added.
With this kind of mindset from these drivers, along with the strong backing from family, friends and TMP, the Philippine delegate is relentless and truly formidable as they aim for the highest star come this November.
Ian Ison passes down his passion to son, Enzo, who is now a young legend in e-motorsports.
Russell Reyes and Enzo Ison, champions of their respective categories.
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