TGR Philippine Cup to resume racing with biofuel
Race Weekend 2 happens on July 10 to 11 at Clark International Speedway
By Inigo Roces
At A Glance
- Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) now announces the resumption of its racing series, the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup, fueled by a 5% coco-biodiesel blend (B5) and 20% bio-ethanol gasoline blend (E20).
- Using these specific fuels will allow the racing series to serve as a test platform for the usage benefits of these biofuels.
Racing is back, and it restarts this weekend. After putting the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup on hold in March due to the prevailing fuel crisis, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) now announces the resumption of its racing series that will serve as a platform for innovation and more conscientious use of fuel.
The TGR Philippine Cup returns with sustainability at the forefront. The racing series will serve as a rolling laboratory by utilizing low-carbon biofuels to run its two one-make race vehicles, the Vios OMR and Tamaraw OMR. Racing is the most extreme driving condition a vehicle is subjected to, allowing it to serve as a test platform for the usage benefits of a 5% coco-biodiesel blend (B5) and 20% bio-ethanol gasoline blend (E20), offering a unique opportunity to push vehicles to their limits. This will not require any modification as 75-percent of Toyota and Lexus gas models are already E20 compatible, while all of Toyota’s diesel models are B5 compatible.
Race Weekend 2 will be happening on July 9 to 11 at the Clark International Speedway in Mabalacat, Pampanga. It will be the second out of four race weekends planned for the TGR Philippine Cup in 2026.
The TGR Philippine Cup has been bringing the thrill and joy of motorsports closer to Filipinos since it was launched in 2014. In March, the racing event attracted more than 6,000 spectators when it brought the action to Riverpark, Cavite for Race Weekend 1. It was during that weekend that the series debuted the Tamaraw Racing Class, which makes use of the locally-made Tamaraw one-make race car.
Interior of the Toyota Tamaraw one-make race car
“Motorsports has always been a testbed for progress, and this season, TGR Philippines will take a step forward by actively exploring alternative fuels in competitive racing conditions. Testing biofuels in motorsports allows us to evaluate performance, efficiency and reliability in high-demand environments, so this will be a pivotal moment for the wider adoption of low-carbon biofuels in the Philippines,” said TMP First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations, Elijah Marcial.
“As a company committed to reducing carbon emissions, we recognize that every activity must contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable future. Alternative fuels help reduce dependency on non-renewables like petroleum, so using biofuel for our motorsports events aligns with our multi-pathway approach, which includes diversifying our energy sources to contribute to our broader goal of carbon neutrality,” said TMP Vice President for Government and Industry Affairs, Elvin Luciano.
Race Weekend 2 will continue to be open to the public on July 11. Admission is FREE.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup is brought to you by Official Tire Partner GT Radial, Official Engine Oils Partner Petron RevX and Petron Blaze Racing, and Official Partner TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Academy. In cooperation with MOMO Italy, PIAA, Sparco Philippines, Toyota Financial Services Philippines, Autoplus, ROTA, and VARTA. This event is also supported by 3M, AVT, QUAD, myToyota Wallet, OMP, Tuason Racing Sports Unlimited, Brakes by AutoPerformance, Denso, and GENCHEM. Contributing sponsors are Aguila Auto Glass, Kinto One, and AutoQuix.