Fast & Curious: Toyota fuels the passion for racing

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is making motorsports more accessible to Filipinos through the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy Philippines (TGRA) — a hands-on racing school that gives enthusiasts a real taste of life on the track.

Recently held at Clark International Speedway, the academy welcomed aspiring racers eager to push their limits behind the wheel. The day started with an orientation covering the basics — racing etiquette, car control techniques, and the all-important braking points needed to navigate the track efficiently.

But the real excitement came in the second half when participants took what they learned and put it into action. The slalom challenge tested their agility, while the “follow the leader” drill helped them understand the ideal racing line by shadowing an experienced driver. By the end of the session, the students weren’t just learning about motorsports — they were living it.

The TGRA was met with enthusiasm by first-timers, who composed a majority of the participants:

“I race go karts, so I wanted to try driving a car — to see kung anong pinagkaiba. It’s almost the same, but also different because the car is bigger. For me, I feel like mas masaya ito,” Karis Alexandra Santos said.

“Since bata pa ako mahilig ako sa kotse and manood ng racing. I’m also fascinated by the mechanical aspects of cars. Kaya I took the opportunity to sign up nung nakita ko na may slot sa Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy,” Nemuel Obas said.

“The TGRA makes it more accessible to get into this sport. It was beyond my expectations. Akala ko yung first few exercises lang gagawin namin — yung avoiding the cones and braking. Yun pala we also get to go around the track a few times and at a good speed,” Miguel Corrales said.

“Pangarap ko makapag-drive sa speedway, sa track — yung ma-experience yung ganitong driving environment at ma-enhance yung skills ko, so inencourage ako ng mga anak ko mag enroll [sa TGRA]” Javi Rios said.

“As a woman in motorsports, I’m excited to promote diversity and break down barriers in a traditionally male-dominated sport. I think the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy is the perfect place to bring this passion of mine to life,” shared Ella Nicole Bornilla.

“The TGRA is our way of making motorsports more accessible to racing fans,” Andy Ty, TMP assistant vice president for Marketing Services, said. “We’ll have more batches of the TGRA this year, so we invite those who missed this first batch to join us in the next ones.”

The TGRA was launched in 2014 as a training ground for hopefuls looking to kick-start their racing career. Some graduates of the program have gone on to pursue professional racing careers, with some participating in the TGR Philippine Cup, TMP’s premier racing series.

Racing fans can continue to join in the fun at Race Weekend 1 of the TGR Philippine Cup, which will be happening this Saturday, 22 March 2025 at the Clark International Speedway. Admission is free.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy Philippines is accredited by the Automobile Association Philippines and brought to you by Official Fuel & Lubricants Partner Petron and Official Tire Partner GT Radial.

This event is also supported by Toyota Financial Services Philippines, myTOYOTA Wallet, Denso, AVT, 3M, ROTA, Tuason Racing, OMP and Kinto One.

For more information on the TGRA and other TGRA events, visit https://toyota.com.ph/tgrphilippines. Follow Toyota Gazoo Racing on Facebook and Instagram and TMP’s official pages — Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, ToyotaMotorPH on Twitter, and join the Viber community at Toyota PH for updates.