TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) has announced the Top 40 quarterfinalists for its premier sim racing tournament, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing eSports GT Championship 2025.
Mark Luigi Bautista says more than 250 participants put in their fastest lap time around the Suzuka East Short Course on Gran Turismo 7 on the Toyota Supra RZ’20, 40 of them advancing on October 11 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
The Top 20 will advance to the semifinals on October 12, with the Top 10 finishers battling it out in the finals later in the day to select the Philippine representatives to the TGR Asia eSports GT Championship.
There will also be car displays of the GR Yaris, GR Supra and GR 86, as well as the Vios one-make-race car (OMR) and Tamaraw OMR that were driven during the 2025 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup.
‘We congratulate the sim racers who made it to the quarterfinals and look forward to seeing them push their limits at the live event at Ayala Malls Manila Bay. We invite everyone to come experience the thrilling world of eSports with us,’ said TMP Vice President for Marketing Services Elvin Luciano.
The event is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines, sponsored by Petron and GT Radial and supported by Seiko, Toyota Financial Services Philippines, Tuason Racing, AVT, 3M, Denso, OMP, ROTA, Autoplus, PIAA, Vinyl Frog Premier Vehicle Wraps, AutoQuix, Sparco, myTOYOTA Wallet and Kinto One.
Mitsubishi and UPLB
MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) recently donated to the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) a Mitsubishi Strada Athlete pick-up in support of the DUNONG Program (Department of Education-Laguna-University of the Philippines Los Baños Nurturing Opportunities for the Next Generation Towards Ending Learning Poverty in the Philippines).
Faye Alexis Marcelino reports that the program responds to pressing concerns in education and nutrition, with many children struggling to read with comprehension and others attending school without proper meals. By combining education and feeding initiatives, the program aims to give children not only the ability to read and learn, but also the nourishment to thrive.
‘Today’s turnover is a symbol of partnership-one that brings together the strengths of industry and academia to support the growth of knowledge, innovation and national progress,’ said MMPC chairman Noriaki Hirakata.
For his part, MMPC President and CEO Ritsu Imaeda said:
‘At Mitsubishi, our mission has always been about more than producing quality vehicles. We aim to be a trusted partner in nation-building, contributing to the progress of the Philippines not only through mobility, but also through programs that uplift lives.’
UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. said: ‘The Strada Athlete will be a crucial partner in the implementation of DUNONG. With it, we can reach schools, parents, and communities more effectively, ensuring that children grow not just in learning but also in health.’
PEE STOP
George Russell of Mercedes won the Singapore Grand Prix on October 5, which drew an attendance of 300,641, an increase of 11.7 percent on last year’s 269,072. Some 65,000 fans have flowed to the Padang each night on Oct. 3-5 for headliners G-DRAGON, Foo Fighters and pop legend Sir Elton John. I covered the night race’s inaugural in 2008 upon the invite of Toyota’s Vince Socco. I will never forget it as Renault’s Fernando Alonso won only because his teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr., deliberately crashed (under team orders) to trigger a safety car, helping Alonso gain ground in the run infamously called the ‘Crashgate’ scandal.