Held from May 23 to 25 in Villar City, just south of Metro Manila, the action-packed weekend drew over 12,000 motorsports fans who witnessed high-speed racing, vehicle showcases, and live entertainment.
The event transformed a 2.4-kilometer stretch of Villar City’s roads into a full-fledged street circuit featuring 14 technical turns, including two hairpins and six chicanes.
Racers from four categories — Novice, Sporting, Super Sporting, and Legacy — competed in three adrenaline-fueled circuit races, providing fans with thrilling close-quarter action across the urban track.
TMP president Masando Hashimoto, competing under the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Novice Team, shook the crowd when his Vios OMR race car flipped after hitting a barrier in the final laps. Despite the high-impact crash, Hashimoto walked away unharmed.
“My car flipped upside down and became immobilized. While the tires and engine sustained significant damage, the cabin remained intact. I lost my beloved Vios #4, but it saved my life,” Hashimoto said, praising the car’s structural integrity and safety systems.
The Vios One-Make-Race (OMR) car, developed over 11 years for both permanent and street circuits, comes equipped with race-specific safety features including roll cages, racing seats, 5-point harnesses, fireproof gear, and HANS devices. These features have made the Vios OMR a reliable platform in TMP’s mission to democratize motorsports while ensuring driver safety.
The TGR Philippine Cup, formerly known as the Vios Cup, is conducted under the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) to ensure all safety protocols are met. The event is part of TGR’s mission to "push the limits for better", integrating racing into vehicle development and public engagement.
Hashimoto reiterated Toyota’s motorsports philosophy inspired by Toyota global chair Akio Toyoda:
“By repeatedly driving and breaking cars in race environments, we identify areas for improvement. This cycle of ‘driving, breaking, and fixing’ helps build better and safer cars.”
Aside from the high-speed racing, the event also showcased Toyota’s innovation and customer engagement through the Toyota Drive Fest. Attendees test-drove models from the GR, GR-S, Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), and Lexus F SPORT lines, and enjoyed exclusive discounts, vehicle displays, and offers. T-SURE, Toyota’s certified pre-owned program, also exhibited secondhand units available for purchase.
In addition, Toyota debuted the Tamaraw Racing Concept, a modified Tamaraw Dropside truck, during a drag race exhibition. The concept vehicle is a symbol of Toyota’s ongoing pursuit of building exciting and track-worthy cars through real-world testing.
The weekend ended on a high note with free concerts featuring Rico Blanco and Parokya ni Edgar on May 24, followed by Ely Buendia and Bamboo on May 25.
Motorsports fans can look forward to the third and final Race Weekend of the 2025 TGR Philippine Cup in August at Clark International Speedway, promising even more excitement as the championship heats up. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
