EDITORS DESK

There was a time long ago when any aspiring Filipino race car driver would have been better off skipping local competition entirely and instead heading abroad to compete and move up the competitive ladder. After all, the few races we had locally were either not recognized by international governing bodies or provided little to no training for the more stringent and organized racing series abroad.

We did have touring car racing, but with such a small field of competitors, few race tracks, or even stringent rules, even the wealthiest teams preferred to field 10-year-old cars, typically a 90’s era Honda Civic at the time. Not exactly ideal or even interesting enough for a touring car race.

If you wanted to watch, you’d have to either know one of the organizers or one of the racers as news of these events hardly reached the public. At the venue itself, spectators either had to watch from the paddocks or make the long walk to one of the few high points on the track with a decent vantage point. Or, you could wait one or two weeks for a video recap of the race to pop up on Youtube, but by then you already knew who the winner was.

Nonetheless, I have the highest respect for the organizers of the many touring car and racing series of the past, as well as the competitors that soldiered on through those trying years.

These days, pursuing racing as a career or even just spectating is not such an impossible endeavor anymore, thanks to the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup series. Now more than 10 years old, it has set the standard for how a racing series should be run, from the cars fielded, to the safety requirements, the organization of the event, and recognition abroad.

First, the Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup takes place over a weekend, with practice, qualifying, and racing happening from Friday to Sunday. Much like Formula 1, the race weekend format makes it easier for families to come and watch. It is typically held on proper race tracks, and while the last one was held on a street circuit, there was no shortage of safety barriers, emergency vehicles, and medical facilities at the venue. While the main draw is the one-make Vios race, there are several events sprinkled in between like gymkhana, drifting exhibitions, and car club track runs. There are also plenty of food kiosks, activities, and even concerts at the venue.

As for the car itself, the competition is a one-make race, requiring entries to compete in a particular vehicle: the Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup Vios. Competitors need to use the current generation vehicle, fitted with a roll cage, racing seat, fire extinguishing equipment, and several other requirements. Modifications are few and uniform throughout the field of entries, which puts the focus more on driver skill rather than vehicle setups. While the race car itself is not cheap — the price of a current Vios plus the modifications — it is compliant with FIA GT100 regulations and can therefore be entered in several other racing series if desired. Toyota has even organized a support race open to older versions of the Vios race car.

Safety is top notch. As expected, a whole fleet of emergency vehicles are on standby during each event, ready to rush to the track to pickup an injured driver or tow away a disabled vehicle. Each racer must wear a compliant fire-retardant racing suit, helmet, and even head and neck support (HANS) device to prevent whiplash.

Finally, competitors are required to secure the required AAP FIA-recognized racing license, depending on the class they entered. This ensures that their racing efforts are recognized, not just locally, but also abroad.

The Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup standard is now being followed by other racing series like the Tuason Racing Formula V1 series, the Cleanfuel Radical Challenge, and even the Mazda Miata Spec Series, which are all one-make races Gazoo Racing champs can move up to. We even have former champs like Daniel Miranda and Inigo Anton now pursuing touring car racing and Formula 4 racing abroad respectively, thanks to the experience provided by the Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup. We’re also seeing more and more former Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup cars being entered in local racing series like endurance racing and even rallying.

Racing now has made a complete 180 from what it was in the early 2000s. There’s order, safety, and most importantly, structure with which to plan out a career, and perhaps even discover the first Filipino Formula 1 driver of the future. It’s come a long way from its slapdash origins and is now something racers and fans can be proud of.

(Iñigo S. Roces is the Motoring Editor of Manila Bulletin)