As a racer, part of what we strive to do, apart from winning, is to inspire. I find that racing for oneself is futile and obviously very selfish to no end. As such, Toyota Motor Philippines feels the same, and ever since the inception of the Vios Cup (now PH Cup), the idea was to always show that racing can be accessible and somewhat achievable.
Toyota GR PH Cup hits the streets
Eager to jumpstart the dormant racing hearts of the Filipinos, Toyota PH pulled out (literally) all the stops to include a street race leg for the 2025 season. Under intense pressure and scrutiny, the Japanese automotive giant pulled it off rather spectacularly, at least from my perspective as a media member and a racer as well.
The venue itself in Villar City, Cavite was chosen well considering its proximity to the greater population of NCR, and a little further south of the Metro, it allowed for a “central” feel that made it easier for the casual and curious fan to partake in the festivities lined up.
Apart from the on-track action, there were a lot of side activities like gymkhana and car club trackdays, cars displayed from Toyota, Lexus, and GR, and of course, the major headliner concert sets from Bamboo, Rico Blanco, Parokya ni Edgar, and Ely Buendia, just to name a few.
The track itself presented a challenge to all racers from my Novice class to the lofty Super Sporting class, we were all equally challenged. It was a 2-kilometre public road turned into a tight and fast race track.
At the latter part of the track sat the main grandstands, perfectly placed to witness some of the daring and oftentimes dastardly overtaking moves from us drivers. It was surreal to race in front of a truly packed grandstand that cheered us on every time we drove past, drowning out the roars from our own race cars. It was a true stadium racing vibe that gave us drivers the determination to put on a show every time we went out on track.
I’m used to being just a driver who flies under the radar, with other drivers garnering more fans and interest. During Toyota’s Leg 2 of the PH Cup, though, I got a taste of what it feels like to have fans and supporters, people who genuinely were inspired by what I did out on track.
Reigniting the passion for racing
At the end of it, when the stages are put down and the road returned to the general public, any trace of what took place is completely erased, apart from a few tire marks on the road.
What the event did best, though, was the lasting impact it left on the drivers and the fans alike. The totality of the 12,000-plus people who descended onto the race venue took with them that racing is for everyone; it chooses no class, race, or gender; for as long as you have the passion and determination, anything is possible.
All of us involved in the circus that was the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup Leg 2 at Villar City came to the same conclusion that all the effort and manifestation poured into this singular event bore fruit in a whole new set of passionate Filipino race fans, and no matter what happened on track, that’s what matters most.