Toyota PH holds successful Round 1 of 2021 Vios Cup

The sound of motorsport has come back to Clark, Pampanga. After a one-year hiatus, TMP finally returned to Clark International Speedway (CIS) last July 9 and 10 and successfully held the first round of the 2021 Vios Cup.

Familiar names and new faces went head to head on the track to see who is the fastest driver. This year, the Circuit Championship division is comprised of 24 drivers from 3 different classes (Promotional, Sporting, and Super Sporting). Joining them are 24 drivers of social media influencers and members of the automotive media competing in the Autocross Challenge.

“Toyota Gazoo Racing is all about pushing the limits for the better. We had to hit the brakes due to the pandemic last year, but now we are back with an even more exciting race! So here we are today at the Clark International Speedway, returning with the ever-reliable Vios. This Filipino-made car is really fun to drive on the daily and at the tracks. With hope for better days ahead and maximum safety protocols, we move forward and race on!” said Okamoto.

Unlike previous Vios Cup races, no spectators were allowed inside CIS. Instead, TMP live-streamed the event to let fans of the event cheer and support their drivers while watching safely from the comforts of home. At the same time, it allowed the race to push through while following safety protocols enforced by the government.

For the Circuit Championship, Maila Alivia and Jiro Garbes finished on the podium twice out of the three races in the Promotional Class. Meanwhile, celebrity racers turned Promotional Class contenders Troy Montero and Fabio Ide had one podium finish each. In the Sporting Class, Inigo Anton and Julian Tang were the consistent top 3 finishers, with Joaquin Garrido being displaced by Jacob Ang in the top 3 by the 3rd race of the weekend. For the Super Sporting Class, Gerard Loy consistently finished on the podium in all three races. Meanwhile, Estefano Rivera and Red Diwa finished at the top 3 in the first 2 races. Bryan Co and Marc Soong took their place by the 3rd race.

Meanwhile, actor Alex Diaz dominated the track in the Autocross Challenge Celebrities and Influencers Class, followed by TV star John Manalo and social media personality Jules Aquino. AutoIndustriya's own Jose Altoveros won the Media class, with Ian Magbanua and Inigo Roces in 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Possibly the biggest surprise was the appearance of the highly awaited Toyota GR Yaris. Stay tuned for that as we'll be covering it in an upcoming event. 

The next leg of the 2021 Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup will take place on September 11. Missed out on the action last week? You can rewatch the races on TMP's official Facebook page and Youtube channel.