Special Features

As Toyota Motor Philippines pursues its mission to bring motor racing closer to the people, everyone geared up for the third leg of the Vios Cup. This time, all cars headed for the vast Clark raceway in Pampanga. Toyota gave everyone another treat as this weekend, they also presented to the public the new 86.

This is the third leg of the exciting Vios Cup, and for this special weekend in September, all roads seemed to lead to one destination, the Clark raceway. Here's an overview of the track, quite a departure from the 2^nd leg held in Filinvest which was more like street racing. It was a much shorter course, not like this vast expanse of race roads which gave the participants a taste of circuit racing.

Toyota President Satoru Suzuki, himself a big fan of the Vios Cup was there in full racing gear to welcome all the participants to the 3^rd leg of the 2016 Vios Cup.

SATORU SUZUKI
President
Toyota Motor Philippines

"Actually the idea is many, many audience coming to our event so, I believe that the event is successful. Also, increasing our key and the exciting and emotional image of Toyota. I believe we are going to continue this event but at this moment, I cannot guarantee for how long, how many years but, really, we will continue this event. We could invite many more drivers, even me, I will join the racing for he first time. So, I, myself, am really excited."

It was so good to see Toyota's immediate past president, Mr. Michinobu Sugata at the race,all geared up for some action on the track.

MICHINOBU SUGATA
Former President
Toyota Motor Philippines

"I got practice round and qualifying round. Well, my time is not fast. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it a lot. Well, it's quite exciting, as usual. And I'm very happy to see my colleagues in the Philippines and we are bonding each other. Well, my time is not very fast but I really enjoyed it a lot and I'm quite excited. I am based in Japan right now and my family is okay in Japan. But everybody in the family misses the Philippines. They really love the Philippines so, luckily I had the chance to come over to join the Vios Cup and I hope the Philippines will grow further and the media people will enjoy with Toyota and I hope, media guys will continue to support Toyota."

To a full field of eager participants, Toyota Motor Corporation Senior Vice President for Marketing Jose Ariel Arias administered the oath of sportsmanship (pause). The group trooped to the stage for a photo op and soon, the cars were off to the starting grid.

What a sight as Vios cars, painted in individual racing colors to show off their sponsors, filled the grid, all eager to roar off to a good start.

Then they were off to a good start, these participants in a one-make race that pits skills in driving and car preparation. There was much jockeying for position on the curbs, but at the end of the first heat, experience paid off.

GERALD LOY
Toyota Dagupan

"As the time flies, medyo nagkaproblema rin pero sinwerte pa rin. Tinawag ako ni Mark Toman, kumpare ko, kaibigan. Sabi niya, "Gusto mong magdrive, try mo lang." Nag-try, yun. Tuloy-tuloy na."

Gerald is from Toyota Dagupan.

And here's a gutsy lady driver, Aira Medrano. Aira started karting at age nine, mentored and coached by her own father and she practiced well for this third leg of the Vios Cup.

AIRA MEDRANO
Toyota Alabang

"Puro practice kami before nitong race weekend. Siguro at least one month 'yung buong practice namin ng buong Toyota Alabang. 'Yun 'yung preparations na ginagawa namin talaga."

Aira acknowledges that, because this is a one-make race, one's skills are brought to the fore.

AIRA MEDRANO
Toyota Alabang

"Sa driving skills lang talaga nag-iimprove. Unlike nung Leg 1 po, hindi talaga naging maganda yung results nung sa'kin and then 'nung Alabang nga, dun na po nagstart yung nailabas ko 'yung inner na galing ko. So, until sa Leg 3 po dito sa Clark, ibibigay ko na po 'yung best ko and para makapunta naman po ako. And para maprove po na "Babae, hindi kaya." Ipu-prove ko po sa kanila na kaya rin po. Unlike po dun sa Filinvest, short track lang po yun, straight race, masikip. Hindi po siya ganun ka-dangerous unlike dito. Pero ngayong Leg 3 po, may weights po na dinadagdag. Nung Race 1, 40 kilograms. Sa second race po, magiging 60 kilos na po ako. I'm not sure po if ano pong mangyayari sa next race but I'll just do my best po."

Aria is here to represent Toyota Alabang.

And one of the top ten drivers in this Vios Cup series is Carlos Loinaz who obviously has the full support of family and friends. His standing is in 9 ^th place in the series, and today he did very well.

CARLOS LOINAZ
Toyota Batangas

"Well, I had no strategy. All I wanted to do was just.. drive! And have fun. So, I got surprised that I ended up in second in the first lap. So, I just goes through."

As in past races, it wasn't a walk in the park for Carlos who holds a regular 9:00 to 5:00 job. Challenger Andres Calma was always there breathing down his neck.

CARLOS LOINAZ
Toyota Batangas

"I had a difficult time with Andres. I mean, his fast! Basically, he really pressured me the whole race. The last lap, he tried to dive in and I so that he was coming into hats, so I let him overshoot. But that one, I got a close call there. Clark for us is our trip tonight. So, we broke three drive shots here in Clark on take-off. So, I never really had a real race, maybe a few. But this one is first race that I really got to make podium."

This is his third year in the Vios Cup, and like all the other participants here, Carlos says this is really a team effort, a coming together of driving skills and a well-prepared car.

CARLOS LOINAZ
Toyota Batangas

"Thank you to the entire Toyota Batangas crew, Barako racing for setting up a wonderful car."

Mr. Sherwin Chua Lim, Toyota Motor Philippines' Vice President for Marketing is always present in all Vios Cup races. Perhaps he is also a racing fan, or perhaps Sherwin ,believes that the Vios Cup brings the everyday reliable street car to the masses and brings out the best driver in these non-professional but skillful drivers.

SHERWIN CHUA LIM
VP - Marketing
Toyota Motor Philippines

"Well, we're very happy with the outcome. I mean, year after year, we see a lot more fans coming in, audience every race. Maybe because we have brought it in Manila and they saw how exciting the racers were, and they are even willing to travel here in Clark just to watch races. We're very happy and there are lot of new racers coming in which is also a good sign that people believe in it, and they wanna be part of it. All the racers feel like it is also a family to them. We have fun outside the track but when on the track, everyone is serious in getting those crucial points."