A Vios to a thrill: Toyota’s one-make race series invigorates PH motorsports

TOYOTA Motor Philippines is transforming the best-selling Vios into a motorsports vehicle for its own version of “grassroots circuit car program.”

Between reliable, fuel-efficient but sedate-looking mass-production vehicles and iconic sports cars, which image would a car manufacturer choose? Auto giant Toyota can afford to “shuttle” between these two personalities, being known throughout its history as a maker of both speed demons and saintly, fuel-frugal people’s cars.

Understandably, it is its reputation as a prodigy in the mass market that has endeared Toyota to the motoring public. Household names such as the Publica and the Corolla in the 1960s added innumerable warm bodies to the automaker’s global fan base, while the 2000GT two-door sports coupe at about the same period turned sport enthusiasts’ heads.

The book “501 Must Drive Cars” describes the 2000GT as being “successful in demolishing a perception that the Japanese car manufacturer was just about creating boring four-wheel passenger transport from A to B.”

“Japan’s first super car” was how another book, the “A-Z of 21st Century Cars” calls the coupe. “Expensive to build, and with a high price tag attached, the 2000GT was an image booster—and the Japanese auto industry as a whole—rather than a commercial success, but it did much to prepare consumers for the more accessible Celica and the hot-rod Supra,” says automobile journalist Tony Lewin in the book.

Nearly five decades later, on local shores today, Toyota is still at it in the unique category of “accessible” motorsport, with the 86 for sports car enthusiasts. Then there’s its poster car for the mass market, the Vios.

Circuit car program

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is pushing the envelope a bit further, as the Vios will soon be “moonlighting” as a motorsports vehicle for what TMP calls its own version of “grassroots circuit car program.”

The race circuit program called the Vios Cup 2014 will be a wheel-to-wheel race for novice racers who will be using the P1.195-million Vios OMR (One Make Race). The parts that were either installed or replaced to prepare the Vios for the races cost approximately P700,000, while the standard top-of-the-line 1.5G manual-tranny Vios, the base of the racing units, is priced at P812,000, bringing the total cost of a raceworthy Vios OMR to P1.512 million. TMP revealed that it slashed off at least P317,000 from the total cost to arrive at the current selling price. But, read on, as there is a caveat to this substantial discount.

As a prelude to the race in 2014, an exhibition race is slated this Oct. 12 and 13 at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga, to be participated in by 12 teams, including celebrities Rhian Ramos, Phoemela Barranda, Aljur Abrenica, Fabio Ide and Jhinno Rufino, and motoring journalists Brian Afuang, Jeff Reyes, James Deakin, Vince Pornelos, Iñigo Roces, Aris Ilagan and Botchi Santos.

The Vios 1.5 G M/T variant underwent Toyota Racing Development (TRD) modifications on certain parts, which are mainly performance-oriented parts. Mentioned in particular were the intake, exhaust, suspension and race standard safety equipment.

These racing add-ons include clutch cover, clutch disc, limited slip differential, sport brake pad, muffler set, upper mount (front), suspension set, roll cage and intake system.

Other racing add-ons include the installation of TRD aero kits, hood lock pins, bucket seats, seat bracket, six-point seatbelt, steering wheel + HUB, circuit breaker, tow hook (front and rear), fire extinguisher, heel plate/flooring, and circuit breaker mounting. The cost already includes the labor on modification, and other parts/items such as pedal pads, wheel nuts, body decals, alloy rims and tires.

Who can buy it?

The Vios OMR can only be bought by those who will participate in the race. It will not be an additional variant to the Vios’ current lineup. Talk about limited edition.

TMP will start accommodating interested racers and buyers. The maximum number of vehicles for a full grid would be 35.

TMP priced the Vios OMR as such “to make motorsports very affordable for beginner racers.”

“The company understands that engaging in motorsports in the country has not been as popular due to multiple factors such as high costs, accessibility and lack of support from major bodies. Having said that, TMP aims to address these issues by leading a grassroots racing program to develop basic motorsports knowledge and to mold racing skills of Filipinos,” said Ariel T. Arias, TMP senior executive vice president for the marketing division, during the Sept. 20 Vios Cup press conference at Midas Hotel Manila.

Rekindle the passion

He added: “More than just tackling those issues, TMP believes that it is high time for Filipinos to rekindle the passion in motorsports. Catered to just about anyone, the Vios Cup has been designed for nonprofessionals, making it a platform for anyone to satisfy their adrenaline rush. TMP believes that motorsports is not only for affluent enthusiasts.”

TMP participated in a racing competition in the mid-1990s through the Corolla Cup and the Toyota Formula series, which catered mostly to professional race drivers.

“Though TMP has joined races in the past, this will be the first time that we will engage in motorsports that caters mainly to nonprofessionals,” Arias said.

As TMP re-enters motorsports this year, it says that the public can expect a grander race led by the best-selling vehicle in the Philippines.

TMP points out that just like in a regular racing competition, the treatment of wheel-to-wheel incidents is that the cost of repair would be shouldered by the team, or owner, of the car.

The team or individual cannot further modify their Vios OMR. According to TMP, this is so that everyone has a fair chance of winning the race and, moreover, each driver’s skills would be tested.

Other detailed conditions would be disclosed after the 2013 Vios exhibition race in October.