Toyota Tamaraw to have one-make race at 2026 TGR PH Cup

Are you ready to see some Toyota Tamaraw action at next year’s Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup? That’s right, the next-generation workhorse will be joining the 2026 season of the motorsport competition, and the automaker plans to have dozens of them on the racetrack.

This was officially confirmed by Andy Ty, Assistant vice president at Toyota Motor Philippines, who shared the news last weekend. According to the executive, Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines plans to have 30 Tamaraw race cars on the grid, and that it will have its own separate class.

To demonstrate just how capable the Tamaraw is on the track, the automaker held a sprint race during the final round of this year’s season. Five lightly-modified Toyota Tamaraws were let loose at Clark International Speedway last August 9, 2025, and were driven by past Vios Cup champions: Allan Uy (2016), Daniel Miranda (2017), Estefano Rivera (2021), John Dizon (2023), and Tyson Sy (Former Vios OMR Test Driver).

Speaking of modifications, Andy Ty shared that the TGR-spec Tamaraw race cars will have a modified suspension, a limited-slip differential (LSD), and safety upgrades like a racing seat, a full roll cage, and a race-spec steering wheel. Under the hood, the 2.4L turbo-diesel engine with 150 PS will remain stock, but based on what we saw at Clark International Speedway, it will be equipped with an HKS exhaust system. Power will then be sent to a five-speed manual gearbox, which gives it a torque output of 343 Nm.

Toyota Motor Philippines, together with Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines, will hold a track day soon for the upcoming one-make race and will invite customers, dealers, and media guests to try out the TGR-spec Tamaraw. In addition, Toyota PH’s very own president Masando Hashimoto (who won 2nd place overall in the Novice Class of the 2026 season) has already voiced interest in joining the Tamaraw one-make race.

Hashimoto even shared that he was able to test drive a modified Hilux Tamaraw in Thailand, which competed in last year’s Thailand Super Pickup championship. It gets some neat modifications like a new fuel delivery system, a custom turbocharger, a custom exhaust, an extensive racing body kit, and a stripped-out interior to remove any dead weight.

With Toyota Motor Philippines confirming there will be a one-make race series for the next-generation workhorse, we’ll be curious to see a herd of Tamaraws battling it out at Clark International Speedway, and perhaps in other race tracks in the country.