Indonesian sim racer Andika Rama Maulana sealed a triumphant comeback to reclaim the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Asia eSports GT Championship title, dominating the 2025 finals held over the weekend at Toyota Alive Space in Bangkok.

Rama topped the individual category with 74 points, securing his second championship crown after first winning the title in 2023. Fellow Indonesian Moreno Pratama finished first runner-up with 62 points, while Malaysia’s Chong Kai Chang placed second runner-up with 59 points.

Indonesia also clinched the Country Championship with a total of 169 points from Rama, Pratama, and Farizi Pramaditya, outpacing Malaysia (151 points) and Singapore (93 points).

The 2025 Asia Finals featured 15 of the region’s best sim drivers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand across three dramatic races in Gran Turismo 7.

Rama’s comeback run

The opening race at Suzuka Circuit saw heavy rain turn the event into a test of reflexes and strategy. Malaysian frontrunner Taj Aiman initially led, but a furious three-way battle among Rama, Kai Chang, and Iqbal Suji captivated viewers. In the final laps, Rama surged ahead to claim victory, followed by Pratama and Kai Chang.

The second race in Interlagos — the longest of the championship — introduced the tournament’s first-ever full team-race format, requiring two mandatory driver swaps. Malaysia’s well-timed pit rotations and teamwork secured the win, with Indonesia and Singapore finishing second and third.

At Watkins Glen, the final showdown remained tight, with almost all drivers separated by less than a second. A bold strategy by Malaysia pushed them into contention, but rapid tire wear forced another pit stop, opening the door for Indonesia. Rama’s precision and stamina powered him to another win, sealing his overall championship triumph, with Pratama taking second and Kai Chang third.

Champion reacts

Celebrating his victory, Rama said:
“Winning the 2025 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia eSports GT Championship is the result of months of preparation and sticking to our race strategies… Seeing our strategy pay off and being crowned Asia’s champion again gives us an incredible sense of pride.”

Pratama echoed the sentiment, saying:
"Competing against the top drivers in Asia was definitely a challenge… it is not just about speed but about evolving and supporting one another."

Kai Chang remarked:
“Finishing third is bittersweet… Racing against Asia’s best pushes me to keep improving, and I look forward to better accomplishments in my next races.”

Team Philippines performance

Team Philippines secured 4th place overall in the country ranking.
Enzo Ison scored the nation’s highest finish at 8th place, followed by Matthew Ang (13th) and Victor Ancheta (14th).

Special awards

• Driver of the Day: Andika Rama Maulana (Indonesia)

• Best Racecraft Driver: Chong Kai Chang (Malaysia)

• Fastest Race Pace: Fadtris Isa (Singapore)

Cash prizes of USD 8,000, USD 4,500, and USD 3,000 were awarded to the top three individual racers and to the top three country teams.

Jaja Ishibashi, General Manager of Toyota Motor Asia, praised the finalists, saying:
“Every racer pushed their limits, refined their approach, and demonstrated remarkable composure across changing conditions… what stood out most was the collective commitment to improvement and teamwork.”