2024 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup season winners.
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has concluded the 2024 season of its annual motorsports series, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup). Racing prodigy Iñigo Anton from Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team, back-to-back champ Alain Alzona from Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go Racing Team, consistent top performer Bong Garbes from Inbox – Toyota San Fernando, and sim racer turned circuit racer Russel Reyes from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH secured the win in their respective classes after three race weekends.
TMP President and Novice Class racer Masando Hashimoto waves to crowd during opening program.
The final race weekend happened on November 9 and was followed by the awarding of the overall winners.
Drumbeaters greeted the audience during the opening program as TMP president Masando Hashimoto arrived in his Vios one-make-race (OMR) car. During the program, he shared how he had shortened his business trip to fly back to Manila to participate in Race Weekend 3 of the TGR Philippine Cup.
“I wanted to meet the racers, mechanics, coaches and motorsports fans – this is my motivation for returning. Today is the last race weekend of the TGR Philippine Cup, which will decide the season winners, so I wanted to congratulate them,” he said.
With tension high and bigger points at stake, the Sprint Race for the Novice and Promotional classes began. Lexi Mendiola and Johndale Dy were in pole position for the Novice and Promotional classes, respectively. Grid positions were reversed based on the results of the previous sprint race.
The Promotional Class battle it out during the Sprint Race.
After a heated battle with lots of contact on track, Pablo Salapantan came out on top for the Novice Class, followed by John Rey San Diego in second and Russel Reyes in third. Bong Garbes, meanwhile, won the Promotional Class, with Ryan Agoncillo, who led the second half of the race but was handed a one-place grid penalty after causing a collision, in second place. Dy rounded up the Promotional Class podium in third.
The Sprint Race for the Sporting and Super-Sporting classes followed right after, with Danzel Waytan in pole position for the Sporting Class and Royce Sarmiento for the Super-Sporting Class.
Waytan converted his pole position into a win by defending well against other racers in the Sporting Class. Jay Lao and Alain Alzona completed the podium in second and third, respectively.
In the Super Sporting Class, Russel Cabrera sealed his win after taking the lead into turn one and creating a gap to separate himself from the rest of the pack. Mikey Keilani Jordan followed in second after a tight battle with Iñigo Anton, who finished in third.
Professional drifters Dane Cruz and Hans Jimenez entertained the audience with a drifting exhibition and shotgun rides while waiting for the start of the Endurance Race. Members of the GR Supra, GR Yaris, and GR 86 car clubs also took to the track in their supercars and even gave a few lucky people from the audience a hot lap ride around the speedway.
All the classes were grouped for the Endurance Race, putting 34 racers on the grid. The Super Sporting Class made up the front of the grid, followed by the Sporting Class, Promotional Class, and the Novice Class. The starting grid was based on the finishing order of the sprint races.
The 1.5-hour race proved challenging, with hot temperatures putting a toll on both racers and cars. Racers are required to make a mandatory pit stop, so strategy was also key to getting an advantage in the race. Driven by the thrill of the competition, racers pushed their limits to try and secure a place on the podium for the Endurance Race.
Iñigo Anton emerged victorious after making his way to the front of the Super Sporting Class in a series of masterful overtakes. He is followed by Russel Cabrera in second, who led most of the race’s first half. Maila Alivia was in third rounding up the podium.
Alain Alzona took first place in the Sporting Class, with Jesse Garcia in second and Paolo Ayo in third.
Bong Garbes dominated the Promotional Class with a consistent drive. Julia Delos Angeles clinched a place on the podium after getting her elbows out and overtaking a few cars to finish second place. Ryan Agoncillo completed the podium in third.
In the Novice Class, Jamil Lacuna crossed the finish line in first place, followed by Reph Bangsil and Russel Reyes in second and third place, respectively.
Below is the official list of winners for Race Weekend 3:
RACE 1: SPRINT RACE 5
NOVICE CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Jamil Lacuna TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2 Russel Reyes TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3 Pablo Salapantan TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Bong Garbes Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
2 Mike Santos R Racing Team
3 Miguel Abano DRQ Motorsport
SPORTING CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Darrel Garbes Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
2 Paolo Ayo Paolo’s Cakes and Pastries – Edgesport Racing
3 Alain Alzona Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go-Racing Team
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Red Diwa JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela
2 Iñigo Anton Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
3 Maila Alivia JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela
RACE 2: SPRINT RACE 6
NOVICE CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Pablo Salapantan TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2 John Rey San Diego TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3 Russel Reyes TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Bong Garbes Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
2 Ryan Agoncillo TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3 Johndale Dy Toyota Team Cebu
SPORTING CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Danzel Waytan JD Motorsports – Ribbon Arc
2 Jay Lao Happy Hotels
3 Alain Alzona Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go-Racing Team
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Russel Cabrera Toyota Team Cebu
2 Mikey Keilani Jordan Jordan Racing
3 Iñigo Anton Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
RACE 3: ENDURANCE RACE 3
NOVICE CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Jamil Lacuna TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2 Reph Bangsil TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3 Russel Reyes TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Bong Garbes Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
2 Julia Delos Angeles Toyota San Jose Del Monte, Inc. – Obengers Racing Team
3 Ryan Agoncillo TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
SPORTING CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Alain Alzona Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go-Racing Team
2 Jesse Garcia Toyota North Edsa / Otis – Obengers Racing Team
3 Paolo Ayo Paolo’s Cakes and Pastries – Edgesport Racing
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Iñigo Anton Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
2 Russel Cabrera Toyota Team Cebu
3 Maila Alivia JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela
Capping off the race weekend was Filipino band, The Juans, who energized the crowd with their hit songs and lively stage presence.
With the conclusion of three race weekends, the 2024 season of the TGR Philippine Cup came to a close. Season winners were determined by the number of points collected from six sprint races and three endurance races.
“What an amazing TOYOTA GAZOO Racing season. Please give yourselves a round of applause. Congratulations!” TMP President Masando Hashimoto happily said as he greeted the racers and racing teams during the end-of-season awarding ceremony.
“Guided by Chairman Akio Toyoda’s WE LOVE CARS spirit, we can develop Philippine motorsports for the better. Because of you, we can bring motorsports closer to more Filipinos and share the FUN TO DRIVE experience with them,” he added.
The list of season winners for the 2024 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines can be found below:
2024 SEASON WINNERS
NOVICE CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Russel Reyes TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
2 Jamil Lacuna TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
3 John Rey San Diego TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH
PROMOTIONAL CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Bong Garbes Inbox – Toyota San Fernando
2 Julia Delos Angeles Toyota San Jose Del Monte, Inc. – Obengers Racing Team
3 Rex Abrenilla Toyota Team Cebu
SPORTING CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Alain Alzona Toyota General Santos – Chooks-To-Go-Racing
2 Danzel Waytan JD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc
3 Jarond Mesina Toyota Team Cebu
SUPER SPORTING CLASS
Rank Name Team
1 Iñigo Anton Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team
2 Russel Cabrera Toyota Team Cebu
3 Red Diwa JBT Racing / Toyota Isabela