Toyota-Gazoo Racing kicks off Vios Cup S4 April 28-29

MANILA, Philippines - Speed-savvy spectators, motorheads and excitement seekers: the 2017 Toyota Vios Cup – which will now be launched as part of the Toyota-Gazoo Racing (TGR) global brand – is coming right on time to add that extra spice to our post-Easter holiday midsummer!

Now on its fourth season, the Toyota Vios Cup remains to be the biggest motorsports event in the country – expanding itself further with an impressive 69 participants filling up its roster for this year’s series. The opening race weekend (qualifying and race proper) will be held this April 28-29 at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga. And consistent with its push to bring grassroots racing to the Filipino public, the race events shall be open for everyone to watch, and for free.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) President Satoru Suzuki was more than excited to announce the new branding of the Vios Cup Series (as now being part of Toyota Gazoo Racing) at the press launch of the Toyota Vios Cup Season 4. He shared: “Piloted by none other than the bestselling vehicle in the country, the Vios has proven that aside from its features of quality, durability and reliability... it is also a car designed for fun!” Emphasizing that “TGR is Toyota’s global racing brand to further push ‘Waku-Doki’ ”—the Japanese concept of heart-pumping fun—which the car manufacturing giant has since sought as the standard for its popular Vios Cup race series. The Philippine Vios Cup series is now no longer just a local race series, but also recognized as being part of Gazoo Racing Asia’s events.

Toyota Gazoo Racing is the brainchild of Akio Toyoda and focuses mainly on the fields of developing human resources, pushing for continuous improvement in building cars, and expanding the existing motorsports fan base. In the Philippines, TRS (Tuason Racing School) founder JP Tuason remains as Vios Cup race organizer and head instructor.

There will be a few changes implemented on the rules guiding the 2017 TGR Vios Cup Race Season, and this will include some important racer reclassifications. This year there shall be the ROTA Promotional Class, Bridgestone Sporting Class, and Total Excellium Super Sporting Class. The ROTA Promotional Class is for Vios Cup novices; and its 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishers shall be awarded trophies. The Bridgestone Sporting Class is for those who did not make it to the top 5 in ranking last year; and is where qualified people from the Promotional Cup can move up to. There are expected to be over 25 drivers in this class this year, and it is likewise expected for this class to be very competitive, as there is prize money at stake for the podium finishers. Lastly, the Total Excellium Super Sporting Class is where all the best drivers of the current Vios Cup season will be; and only those who have already participated in more than one season of Vios Cup will be allowed to join. The grand prizes for the top 3 finishers in this class are very attractive, as they are set at P100,000 for the 3rd placer; P200,000 for the 2nd placer; and a brand new Vios 1.5G M/T for the grand champion of the season.

Furthermore, participants may have their suspension bushings changed; and exhaust manifolds may be replaced for as long as they are manufactured by TRD. There is also a list of items that can now be removed from the car – in an effort to reduce vehicle weight, and achieve a lap time that is approximately 1.5 to two seconds faster per lap.

Once a participant enters the season with a sealed engine, he shall no longer be able to open it. But for special cases, a chance may be granted to him to have his engine repaired, in exchange for a penalty to move him 10 places down the grid. If a participant’s chassis is damaged, he may also be allowed to change it, in exchange for a 10-position penalty.

Meanwhile, Race 2 will apply a reverse grid for the top 6 cars only – to add a little more fun, so that racers will now also have to worry about strategy, over the long season.

Race teams must always have a driver in each of the classes – their points will be cumulative to the team, and each Vios Cup leg will have a team winner. An overall team winner will also be awarded by the end of the season. “This is the first time we’re doing this, ever!” exclaimed a very excited JP Tuason, as he was explaining the new rules of the season.

Clearly, there is much in store for the TGR Vios Cup, Season 4—and there is really only one way to fully appreciate it and what it is doing to boost our local motorsports scene – and that is by experiencing it yourself, as a participant, avid supporter, or curious spectator. The 2017 TGR Vios Cup Season will be comprised of four events: the one happening this April; and rounds 2, 3, and 4, which will be held on June 10-11, September 15-16, and November 10-11 respectively. Try immersing yourself in one of the events, and help support the amateur racing scene develop in the Philippines!