Grid expectations
Toyota’s Phl trio eyes Asia esports honors
TOYOTA Gazoo Racing will bring together 15 esports drivers from five Asian countries for three virtual races that will decide the regional championship titles.
Photographs courtesy of toyota
Three Filipino esports drivers will face former champions and some of the region’s top Gran Turismo 7 players when the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia Esports GT Championship holds its 2026 finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 15 November.
Russel Reyes, 25, and Enzo Ison, 16, will represent the Philippines once again, while Michael Velasquez, 26, completes the team ahead of his first appearance in the regional finals.
The Filipinos will compete against 12 drivers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Each country will field three representatives, with individual and national team titles at stake alongside a total prize pool of $31,000.
FILIPINO racers Enzo Ison, Russel Reyes and Michael Velasquez (from left) will represent the country at the Toyota Gazoo Racing Asia Esports GT Championship finals in Kuala Lumpur on 15 November.
Reyes brings the most regional experience among the Filipinos. He competed in the Asia Finals in 2022, 2023 and 2024, while Ison participated in the last two editions. Velasquez will make his regional debut against several drivers who have already won the championship.
Indonesia’s Andika Rama will defend his title after victories in 2023 and 2025. Malaysia’s Taj Aiman, the 2024 champion, will race before his home crowd, while Singapore’s Ar Muhammad Aleef, who won in 2020, will also seek another title.
Five drivers will make their Asia Finals debut this year. Each participating country will also have a competitor aged 18 or younger, which gives younger racers an opportunity to test themselves against more experienced opponents.
The opening race at Grand Valley Highway-1 will use the GR Supra Racing Concept ‘18 Gr.3. The second round will take place at Nürburgring GP aboard the GR Yaris RZ High Performance ‘20.
The championship will conclude at Fuji Speedway, where drivers will race the SF23 Super Formula/Toyota ‘23.
Points from all three races will determine the individual and country standings. Each victory earns 25 points, followed by 20 for second place and 16 for third. A fastest-lap bonus will add two points, while the combined results of each country’s three drivers will decide the team championship.
The individual and team champions will each receive $8,000. Second-place finishers will earn $4,500, while third-place finishers will get $3,000. Additional trophies will recognize the best racecraft, top newcomer and driver of the day.
Kuala Lumpur will host the championship for the third time after last year’s finals took place in Bangkok, Thailand.
Toyota Motor Asia vice president Preston Tan said the tournament has helped some past participants progress into actual motorsport competitions, with others reaching international events such as the Asian Games.
The race weekend will also feature exhibition events. Toyota representatives will compete on 14 November, while a media Pro-Am race and an esports team competition are scheduled for the following day.