Pampanga, Philippines – Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is revving up the excitement in the motorsports world as it kicked off the 2023 season with a bang. The renowned Clark International Speedway in Pampanga played host to the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup, setting the stage for a thrilling motorsport spectacle that continues to captivate the hearts of enthusiasts and fans. In this exhilarating competition, racers influencer Lexi Mendiola and magazine editor Wowie Go share their experiences, shedding light on their adventures on the racetrack.
*Interviews conducted by Duane Dizon, contributor, eLifestyle Manila
Beyond speed: the art of control
Lexi Mendiola, a prominent social media influencer and commercial model, shared her remarkable journey in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup, now in her third year of participation. In her own words, she stated, “It’s my third year racing for Toyota Gazoo Philippines. On the first year, I won 2nd overall, and for the second year, I placed well but didn’t secure an overall victory.”
Lexi emphasized the incredible experience that racing offers, describing it as a test of limits and mental power. She highlighted the unique nature of the sport, saying, “It’s a way to test your limits, to test your mental power and how to mesh all that together. It’s an experience like no other.”
Regarding racing strategies, Lexi pointed out that auto cross is more about control than speed. “Once you master control with yourself, the weight of the car, and all that synergy, then the magic happens on the race track,” she added.
In response to a question about connecting with her fans, Lexi expressed her enthusiasm for their passion, saying, “I love how fans come up to me, and you can tell they’re passionate about Toyota Gazoo Racing. I can’t help but engage back because they fuel the fire in me; it helps me zone in and want to give it more.”
From editor to racer
Wowie Go, the Editor of C! Magazine, shared his perspective on racing in the sporting class. He observed, “I’m racing in the sporting class,” acknowledging the competitive nature of this category within the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup.
Wowie commended the growth of Toyota Gazoo Racing, stating, “Toyota Gazoo Racing has gotten bigger and bigger over the years.” He noted the inclusion of media personalities and social media influencers as a testament to its expansion and accessibility to a broader audience. He added, “Toyota Gazoo Auto Cross is the perfect gateway to get started in the world of motorsports.”
Wowie emphasized the connection between Toyota’s success outside the track and its performance on the racing circuit. He said, “Most people equate Toyota to be the reliable stalwart of the automotive industry, so Toyota Gazoo Racing shows a more fun side of Toyota.”
When asked about the challenges in his racing category, Wowie highlighted the competitiveness of the sporting class. He said, “This sporting class is the more competitive category,” and pointed out the unpredictability brought by new racers, including influencers, making it even more challenging but exciting.
Toyota Motor Philippines kicked off a thrilling 2023 season of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) started a thrilling 2023 season of its motorsports events with the first local round of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Gran Turismo Cup Philippines (TGR GT Cup PH) last June 28, 2023 and the first of three legs of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Cup 2023 (TGR Vios Cup) last July 1, 2023.
E-motorsport fans around the country gathered to watch the first round of the 2023 TGR GT Cup PH last June 28, 2023—the first of its three qualifying rounds. The first round featured the Tsukuba Circuit racetrack and the GR 86 as the sim car.
A mix of TGR GT Cup first timers and veterans participated this season. David Enzo Ison came in at first place for the Junior Class; Stanley Theodore Golez championed the Promotional Class while past champion Luis Moreno claimed his spot as the Sporting Class Champion.
Joshua David Marquez and Russo Grabriel Formoso took the second and third spots in the Junior Class, while Deigo Herrera and Benedict Salido followed right behind Golez in the Promotional Class. Lastly, Matthew Spencer Ang and Russel Reyes completed the second and third spots, respectively, in the Sporting Class.
Catch the TGR GT Cup Philippines Round 2 broadcast on July 14, 2023, which will be streamed on the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Facebook page. Stream starts at 7PM. For interested players, equipped with a Sony PlayStation 4 or 5, with an active PSN Account and PS Plus Subscription, registration is still open for the third and final local round through toyota.com.ph/gtcup.
Meanwhile, the Clark International Speedway (CIS) grandstand roared with cheers as motorsports enthusiasts cheer for their favorite racers and racing teams in the opening leg of the 2023 TGR Vios Cup last July 1, 2023.
TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto welcomed both racers and fans at CIS. “Racers, racing teams, fans, supporters. We are all part of our growing TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines family. We thank you for always being part of the Vios Cup’s long and exciting history, and we hope to see you as we elevate this program even more in the future – especially now that we are entering an era of carbon neutrality in motorsports.”
This season’s first leg was also the debut of the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV in the TGR Vios Cup. Dubbed as the Hybrid Electric Racer, the Corolla Altis GR-S HEV served as this season’s safety car.
Team Toyota Cebu was off to a good start as they dominated the Circuit Championship races with Jarond Mesina and Ian Rosales taking the top spots in Promotional and Super Sporting class respectively. Meanwhile, Toyota Balintawak Inc. – Obengers Racing Team took the top spot in the podium of the Sporting Class with Vios Cup newcomer, Bern Corpino.
Alain Alzona of Toyota General Santos – Chooks-to-Go Racing and Bong Garbes of Inbox Toyota San Fernando followed Mesina in the Promotional podiums in second and third. Michael Keilani Jordan and Maila Alivia then took the second and third spot at the Sporting class, while Gerard Loy and Bryan Co of R Racing Team completed the podium spots in the Super Sporting Class.
Thrilling turns and dashes also happened as media and influencers battled their hearts out in the Autocross Challenge. Vios Cup rookie Pattice Tenorio of Zigwheels championed the Media Promotional Class. She’s followed by Philkotse’s Cesar Miguel in second place and Top Gear’s Riz Javier in third.
The Media Sporting Class featured Siegwald Go at the top spot with newcomers following close behind. Justin Young of Visor came in at second place, and John Rey San Diego of Autocar Philippines at third.
Girls ran the tracks with an all-female podium finish for the Promotional Influencer Class. Bianca Yao championed the class, followed by first timers Arianne Bautista and Apple David in the second and third spots, respectively.
Miguel Romulo leveled up for the new season, finishing in first place, now in the Sporting Influencer Class. Lexi Mendiola and Reph Bangsil follow him in the second and third places.
See the full list of winners here:
CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP
| PROMOTIONAL CLASS | ||
| Champion | JAROND MESINA | TOYOTA TEAM CEBU |
| 2nd Place | ALAIN ALZONA | TOYOTA GENERAL SANTOS – CHOOKS-TO-GO RACING TEAM |
| 3rd Place | BONG GARBES | INBOX TOYOTA SAN FERNANDO |
| SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Champion | BERN CORPINO | TOYOTA BALINTAWAK, INC. – OBENGERS RANCING TEAM |
| 2nd Place | MICHAEL KEILANI JORDAN | TOYOTA OTIS, INC. – OBENGERS RACING TEAM |
| 3rd Place | MAILA ALIVIA | JBT RACING / TOYOTA ISABELA |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS | ||
| Champion | IAN ROSALES | TOYOTA TEAM CEBU |
| 2nd Place | GERARD LOY | R RACING TEAM |
| 3rd Place | BRYAN CO | R RACING TEAM |
AUTOCROSS CHALLENGE
| PROMOTIONAL MEDIA | ||
| Champion | PATRICIA TENORIO | ZIGWHEELS |
| 2nd Place | CESAR MIGUEL | PHILKOTSE |
| 3rd Place | RIZ JAVIER | TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES |
| SPORTING MEDIA | ||
| Champion | SIEGWALD GO | C! MAGAZINE |
| 2nd Place | JUSTIN YOUNG | VISOR |
| 3rd Place | JOHN REY SAN DIEGO | AUTOCAR PHILIPPINES |
| PROMOTIONAL INFLUENCER | |
| Champion | BIANCA YAO |
| 2nd Place | ARIANNE BAUTISTA |
| 3rd Place | APPLE DAVID |
| SPORTING INFLUENCER | |
| Champion | MIGUEL ROMULO |
| 2nd Place | LEXI MENDIOLA |
| 3rd Place | REPH BANGSIL |
The 2023 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Cup is organized with Bridgestone and Petron. Other sponsors are Denso, 3M, AVT, ROTA, OMP, Tuason Racing, myTOYOTA Wallet and Kinto One.
The TGR GT Cup and TGR Vios Cup are two of the main motorsports events that TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and TMP offer to promote and elevate motorsports in the country—not just on tracks but online as well. With thrilling activities like these, TGR continues to push limits for the better.
For more information on TGR activities, visit toyota.com.ph/gazoo. Follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, and TMP’s official pages—Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, ToyotaMotorPH on Twitter and join the Toyota Viber community at ToyotaPH for more updates.
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