Leading the charge in the Super Sporting Class is racing veteran Maila Alivia, who dominated the weekend by winning both sprint races and securing a top five finish in the endurance round—solidifying her status as a top contender for the season championship.
In the Sporting Class, Jesse Garcia emerged as the early frontrunner, while Luis Moreno, a sim racer and Vios Cup Autocross Challenge graduate, currently leads the Novice Class standings.
Adding nostalgia and competition, former Vios Cup racers clashed in the Legacy Class, including Senator JV Ejercito, who won his first Vios Cup race in 2017, and Paolo Ang, a two-time Sporting Class runner-up. Ang took the Legacy sprint win after early leader Oliver Estrella was forced to the back of the grid due to car damage.
In a historic first, GR car club members joined the action during the first weekend race held on March 22 through the newly introduced Club Race, aligning with Toyota’s vision of bringing the thrill of motorsports closer to its fans.
GR and Lexus F SPORT vehicle owners also had their time on the track during Track Day, giving enthusiasts the chance to drive high-performance machines and admire them up close in dedicated display areas.
The weekend’s standout format featured a reverse grid in Sprint Race 2, where starting positions were flipped based on earlier results. This added drama and unpredictability, with Russel Reyes seizing his second Sporting Class sprint win and TMP president Masando Hashimoto claiming a podium finish in the Novice Class after an unexpected runoff by Pablo Salapantan.
The Super Sporting Class endurance race saw a heated battle for third between Mikey Jordan and Alain Gabriel Alzona. After several attempts, Alzona made a successful overtake to take the position in a gripping finale.
Event-goers weren’t left out of the fun. The activity zone offered freebies, sim racing, RC car challenges, and diecast collectibles, creating a full-blown fan experience aligned with TGR’s philosophy of “making ever-better cars and delivering ever-better experiences.”
“As we celebrate 11 years of the TGR Philippine Cup, it’s our pride and honor to continue bringing you the thrill and joy that only TGR can bring,” said the TMP president.
Race Weekend 2 is set for May, with more intense wheel-to-wheel action and community-driven fun in store. Fans can follow updates on Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines via Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.
The 2025 TGR Philippine Cup is made possible by fuel and lubricants partner Petron, tire partner GT Radial, and supporting partners including Toyota Financial Services Philippines, myTOYOTA Wallet, Denso, AVT, 3M, ROTA, Tuason Racing, OMP, and Kinto One. — Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
