The 2025 season of Toyota Motor Philippines’ premier racing series, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup), has come to a close. Russel Cabrera from Toyota Team Cebu – Standard Insurance, Jesse Garcia from Obengers Racing – Toyota Balintawak, and Luis Moreno from the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Novice Team, secured the overall championship in their respective classes after three race weekends.
The third and final race weekend was held on August 9 at the Clark International Speedway in Mabalacat, Pampanga. The awarding of the overall season winners followed this.
The Tamaraw one-make-race (OMR) concept made its circuit debut in the Tamaraw Sprint Race Exhibition during the race weekend, where former Vios Cup champions Allan Uy, Daniel Miranda, Estefano Rivera, John Dizon, and GR Development Driver Aaron Guevara got behind the wheel to push the locally made Tamaraw to the limits. The concept vehicle logged an average lap time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds, similar to the Vios CVT OMRs used by the Novice Class. It further showcased its capabilities as a racing vehicle when it crossed the finish line faster than a GR 86 and Vios OMR Legacy Class car during the Drag Race.
“Since the Tamaraw OMR Concept’s debut in Race Weekend 2, we’ve made significant upgrades focused on safety and handling. As the first country to develop an OMR vehicle, it’s challenging and we have a lot of work ahead of us, but so far, we are impressed with the performance of the Tamaraw this weekend,” TMP GR Section Supervisor JC Gaon said.
The race weekend was filled with other thrilling activities, such as the return of the Endurance Race, where TMP President Masando Hashimoto secured his maiden win. Vios OMR racers also went head-to-head in the Sprint Race, while owners of the GR Yaris, GR Supra and GR 86 battled it out in the Club Race.
It was also during the race weekend that the TGR Philippines eSports GT Championship 2025, TMP’s premier e-motorsports tournament, kicked off its qualifiers. Participants logged in their fastest times for a chance to move up to the next round and become the next sim racing champion.
To round up the weekend, local pop and alternative rock band Over October serenaded the crowd with their hit songs before the official announcement of winners.
The end of Race Weekend 3 was followed by the overall awarding of the 2025 season winners.
It has been a thrilling year. From the introduction of the Legacy Class during Race Weekend 1 to the unforgettable Race Weekend 2 city street race and sprint race debut of the Tamaraw OMR Concept during Race Weekend 3, the 2025 season is one for the books.
“We would like to thank all the racers, racing teams, sponsors, media partners, fans, and everyone else who made this racing series possible. Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines will continue to bring more exciting activities. We hope you look forward to them,” TMP Assistant Vice President for Marketing Services Andy Ty stated.
