Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently concluded the National Finals of the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup Philippines (TGR GT Cup PH) on Sunday, August 18. The event took place at the SM Mall of Asia and drew large crowds as top sim racers competed for cash prizes, exclusive TGR merchandise, Autocross Challenge seats, and the honor of representing the Philippines at the Asia Finals.
The Finals consisted of Quarterfinals and Semifinals held over two days. In the Quarterfinals, the top 40 fastest e-racers battled it out on the Trial Mountain track in the 2020 Toyota GR Yaris RZ "High Performance". Participants were divided into four batches and competed in three race heats. Qualifying time trials, reverse grids, and fastest lap competitions added excitement to the races. Past champions Luis Moreno, Russel Reyes, Enzo Ison, and Stanley Golez showcased their skills and dominated their respective batches.
Next, the Semifinals took place on the Suzuka Circuit with the top 20 e-racers competing in two batches. Similar race formats were followed, with weather conditions randomly chosen to challenge the drivers. Luis Moreno, Russel Reyes, Matthew Ang, and Stanley Golez continued to display their prowess and secured their spots in the Finals.
For the National Finals, the top 10 players competed on three different tracks using three different cars: Deep Forest in the 2020 Toyota GR Yaris RZ "High Performance", Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in the 2021 Toyota GR 86 RZ, and Fuji International Speedway in the 2018 Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept.
The races in the National Finals witnessed intense wheel-to-wheel action as the top e-racers pushed their limits. Cheers from the audience filled the SM Mall of Asia as favorite racers faced each other for the first time. Luis Moreno emerged victorious in the first race, showcasing his strategic pit strategy. The second race featured a reverse grid, but Moreno made a remarkable comeback to claim the top spot. The third race saw Moreno's brilliance once again as he took advantage of an opportunity to secure second place. Matthew Ang finished first in the final race.
Luis Moreno was announced as the TGR GT Cup PH 2024 Champion, with Enzo Ison in 2nd Place and Russel Reyes in 3rd Place. Enzo Ison received the Driver of the Day award, and Matthew Ang earned the Fastest Lap award.
Luis Moreno, Enzo Ison, and Russel Reyes will represent Team Philippines at the Asia Finals in Malaysia on October 13. The participants expressed their gratitude to Toyota Motor Philippines for organizing the event and expressed their excitement for future races.