With the rise in popularity of motorsports thanks to cultural phenomenon like Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” the “Gran Turismo” movie, and the upcoming “F1” movie of Brad Pitt, many young drivers may be considering motorsports as a viable career. But where can they start?
Why not the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy? Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is making motorsports more accessible with the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy Philippines (TGRA). Designed for aspiring drivers, it offers them firsthand experience behind the wheel at the Clark International Speedway.
The latest TGRA session gave participants a structured introduction to racing. Divided into two segments, the program began with classroom-style instruction on racing fundamentals, including racing etiquette, car control, and braking techniques. The afternoon session shifted to practical application, featuring slalom and "follow the leader" exercises. These allowed students to develop agility and learn ideal racing lines on track.
While the TGRA program isn’t new, having been launched in 2014, its role has become increasingly vital as interest in grassroots motorsports grows. Several TGRA graduates have progressed to competitive levels, including participation in the TGR Philippine Cup, TMP's flagship racing series.
For most of the recent batch, the TGRA experience marked their first time on a racetrack.
“I race go-karts, so I wanted to try driving a car — to see kung anong pinagkaiba (what’s the difference). It’s almost the same, but also different because the car is bigger. For me, I feel like mas masaya ito (this is more exciting),” shared Karis Alexandra Santos.
Nemuel Obas, another participant, added, “Since bata pa ako mahilig ako sa kotse and manood ng racing (Since I was young, I was already into cars and watching racing). I’m also fascinated by the mechanical aspects of cars. Kaya I took the opportunity to sign up nung nakita ko na may (when I saw there was a) slot sa Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy.”
Javi Rios, a father encouraged by his children, noted, “Pangarap ko makapag-drive sa speedway, sa track — yung ma-experience yung ganitong driving environment at ma-enhance yung skills ko, so in-encourage ako ng mga anak ko mag-enroll [sa TGRA]. (It’s been my dream to drive in the speedway, the track, and to experience this kind of driving environment to enhance my skills, so I encouraged my kids to enroll at TGRA.)”
Miguel Corrales expressed surprise at the depth of the experience: “The TGRA makes it more accessible to get into this sport. It was beyond my expectations. Akala ko yung first few exercises lang gagawin namin — yung avoiding the cones and braking. (I thought we’d only do the first few usual exercises of avoiding cones and braking.) Yun pala we also get to go around the track a few times and at a good speed.”
Ella Nicole Bornilla, one of the female drivers in the batch, emphasized the importance of inclusion. “As a woman in motorsports, I’m excited to promote diversity and break down barriers in a traditionally male-dominated sport. I think the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy is the perfect place to bring this passion of mine to life,” she said.
Andy Ty, TMP Assistant Vice President for Marketing Services, underscored the company’s mission: “The TGRA is our way of making motorsports more accessible to racing fans. We’ll have more batches of the TGRA this year, so we invite those who missed this first batch to join us in the next ones.”
The TGRA is recognized by the Automobile Association Philippines and supported by several industry partners including Petron, GT Radial, Toyota Financial Services Philippines, and others.
The recent TGRA session also set the tone for the just-concluded Race Weekend 1 of the 2025 TGR Philippine Cup. Held at the same venue, the first race weekend offered a glimpse of what these newcomers could aspire to — a competitive, professionally-run racing series that many TGRA alumni now compete in.
By giving first-timers a safe and structured entry point into motorsports, Toyota not only nurtures talent but also builds a broader community of racing enthusiasts. For those inspired by the TGR Philippine Cup Race Weekend 1 and looking for a way into the sport, the TGR Academy stands as a logical and well-supported first step.