The search for Filipino racing talent is moving from online qualifying laps to a live showdown in Pasay City.
Twenty drivers will compete in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Esports GT Championship National Finals on Sunday, September 27. Half will race in the Sporting Class; the other half will contest the Junior Class, where young competitors get an early taste of national motorsport competition.
The finalists came through a qualifying field of more than 400 entrants, a sharp rise from roughly 250 last season. Driving a stock Toyota GR 86 in Gran Turismo, they chased their fastest laps around the game’s Laguna Seca circuit. Russel Reyes set the Sporting Class pace at 1 minute, 40.258 seconds, while Enzo Ison led the Junior qualifiers at 1 minute, 40.751 seconds.
Sunday’s prize is bigger than a national title. The winner of each class will take home ₱100,000 and join Team Philippines at the Asia Finals. Both runners-up will receive ₱75,000, and the runner-up with the higher points total will claim a third place on the Philippine team.
Toyota Motor Philippines has held the competition since 2020. It sees sim racing as an entry point for aspiring drivers, with top performers potentially progressing toward events such as the TGR Philippine Cup.
Fans can watch the finals for free at Function Room 1 on the second floor of the SMX Convention Center. Public racing simulators will be available to try, alongside displays of the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR 86 and Tamaraw one-make race car. The event will also be livestreamed on the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Facebook page.
