Despite traffic scare, the Vios Cup brings them in

Last week most of those in the motoring media were making head counts amongst themselves as who were going to the Clark International Speedway for the Vios Cup races. Faced with the prospect of sitting out in one’s vehicle enduring traffic gridlocks while inside the NLEX from Balintawak to Marilao, Bulacan where a mammoth gathering of INC disciples was expected to start its ingress as early as Saturday morning for their Centennial Celebrations scheduled on Sunday at the newly erected Philippine Arena, everybody was trying to make sure that there will be others who would likewise make the apprehensive trip not only in order to enjoy watching an expected exciting race but more for showing media support for Toyota’s big time venture into local motor sports.

I had to set up an early wake up alarm Saturday morning, despite a very late “lights out” from a poker game Friday night just to be ahead of the expected unprecedented convergence of people and vehicles from cars to humongous buses at the expressway. But I guess the media hype for people to postpone their trip during the historical event to avoid aggravation proved effective as I found the stretch from the Balintawak Toll Plaza all the way past Marilao sparsely with vehicles.   

When we reached the Clark International Speedway, the crowd wasn’t as much as that during the 1^st leg last May 24 or during the inaugural exhibition race in January but there was still very much of a big crowd of motoring enthusiasts. And the motoring media was there in full force for an unqualified support for Toyota—traffic scare or none.

The 2^nd leg of the 2014 Vios Cup had 30 cars in the grid during the 1^st heat with 5 movie-TV celebrities and 3 media personalities among the long list of participating race drivers. It had 28 in the 2^nd, which was started in the rain, just a few minutes away from being scrapped as the latest the race would be allowed to start was at 6 o’clock in the evening. The delay of the race’s start was due to the heavy downpour that started just as it was about to be flagged off. And there was no way Toyota would sacrifice safety in exchange for anything. 

Although Toyota has a lot to gain from this brilliant endeavor of actively and professionally promoting local motor sports, especially circuit racing via the Vios Cup, while at the same time further promoting the Vios model brand, it may have its pitfalls if not handled well.

Although the Vios is presently the largest-selling automobile in the country, in the process close to having the “hall-of-fame” distinction unmatched, being the proclaimed “Automobile of the Year—People’s Choice, topping all other brands and models not only in terms of units sold but in actual public votes cast as well, two years in a row, it has now also acquired a most welcome new distinction. From being the top choice as an “entry-level” automobile, the top choice of taxi operators, the Vios is now fast becoming the “popular racing car of choice”—what a quantum leap in stature on account of the Vios Cup.  

 Toyota’s unflinching and total commitment to hold safety and fairness over an above any other interest as echoed by no less than Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) president, Mr. Michinobu Sugata as part of his welcome speech, “...we have assigned more marshals from the AAP (Automobile Association Philippines) to ensure fairness and safety in the race track” would keep the integrity of the competition. Anything less could be its pitfall.

 There were concerned reservations during the 2^nd leg of the Vios Cup when the leading driver was allowed by race marshals to continue running despite a damaged rear bumper, which poised some kind of danger to other racers. According to some expert and experienced racers who have run in international competitions (with all due respect to the involved race driver who undoubtedly has very good racing skills) such situation would merit the calling in of the participant to the pit for immediate repair so as not to endanger other drivers. But some were of the opinion that doing so would spoil all the racing action happening at that particular portion of the race. That is a pitfall—sacrificing safety in the name of excitement. But I guess Sugata-san has declared Toyota’s position in this issue—safety and fairness above anything else.

Racing preparations for the 3^rd and final leg to determine the 2014 Vios Cup Champion are undoubtedly underway since the last one was concluded last Saturday.

The final and Championship leg of the 2014 Vios Cup is scheduled in October also at the Clark International Speedway.

More industry good news from BMW

Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC) importers and distributors of BMW vehicles join the ranks of major industry players that are presently registering outstanding sales performance.

Just in the 1^st half of 2014, ACC has accomplished a maintained dominance of the premium segment with a 36 percent overall market share as it chalks a sales performance of 352 units.

According to latest figures and data from ACC the 3 Series is recorded as its top performer, closely followed by its most popular SUV, the BMW X3, contributing to a 6 percent increase in total sales compared to the same period last year. This correlates with BMW’s global performance of 10.2 percent YTD growth.

Now comes the BMW 4 Series Grand Coupe, the first 4-door Coupe in the Premium Midsize segment, which combines the sleek look of a sport coupe with the functionality provided by 4 doors.

“We are very excited to kick off the second half of 2014 with the launch of the newest model to join the BMW family” were part of the welcome remarks of ACC’s lovely lady president, Ms. Maricar Parco during the intimate launch. “This is a testament to BMW’s commitment as the leader in the Philippine automotive premium segment, to continuously innovate our products to provide the market with JOY that is distinctively and unmistakably BMW.”

BMW automobile models have the distinction of being the industry leaders in the luxury segment for the past 11 years.

Added treat to all automobile buffs

For the past 17 years Auto Focus (Thursday, 10pm, Sky Cable Channel 13) has distinguished itself as the Philippine Motor Show on TV. It’s the premier weekly TV news and features magazine that’s exclusive to the automobile and its industry.

For those who may miss its weekly telecast, we have put together its cyberspace version—Auto Focus ONLINE (www.autofocus.com.ph), the first “all video” auto magazine on the web.

Just like its TV version it features the latest production automobile models available in the country presently, a feature-to-feature comparison of car models of the same category on its “head-to-head” page, interviews with the automotive industry’s top executives with discussions on their latest model offerings on the Q&A page plus the latest news and developments in the local auto industry to name some of its features.

Indeed a 24/7 online treat to all automobile enthusiasts.

Happy Motoring!!!

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