Toyota Vios Cup: Beauty vs brawn

Toyota Motors PH president Michinobu Sugata and other top company executives with the race participants during the launch

This Saturday, Jan. 25, Clark International Speedway will be hosting the reschedule of the Toyota Vios Cup Celebrity and Media Exhibition Race.  Five television, movie and online stars will compete with seven representatives from the motoring media who are all stars in their own right (or mind). At first, people thought this was an unfair competition.  Motoring media guys are so jaded with driving experiences for they have it every week. Whether on track, off road or on road, they live and breathe cars; while the five celebrities would be coming from zero to minimum racing experience. From this side, it was a competition between beauty and brawn.

Everyone expected the motoring guys to dominate this race, and they did.  During practice, they clocked in the best times. The celebrities were not far behind but they just weren’t breaking into the “fastest time” barrier. The media guys were so solid with their performance that it made them to be gallant in helping their celebrity comrades. So when time trials commenced on a rainy Friday afternoon, nothing could have prepared them for a girl (Phoemela Baranda) to beat them all and get pole position.

With this major upset, the often motormouth media guys were crestfallen, which begs the question: Who has the best chances of winning this Vios Cup?  Here’s what the trainers from Tuason Racing School have to say:

Beauty corner

Rhian Ramos

Dedicated and a fast learner.  She started from not knowing how to drive manual transmission to posting track times almost as fast as the fast guys.  She was given two more months to get comfortable behind the wheel with the reschedule. This will certainly work to her advantage.

Phoemela Baranda

A true racer at heart. She was at the same pace as the boys but exceeded expectations when she won pole position. Although being on top has certainly put a lot of pressure on her, the first corner is what will separate her from the boys.

Aljur Abrenica

Has the potential to be fast but needs more track time. During the October race, he came in at a disadvantage with less seat time than everybody else. However, this Jan. 25, they will all come from the same level of practice, so don’t discount this matinee idol yet.

Jinno Rufino

The “bad boy” of the lot; has a good chance of stealing the limelight at the checkered flag.  Although he qualified fifth, he still has a good chance of ending in the podium after all the smoke made by the three media guys in front of him settles … or he can just be stuck there.

Fabio Ide

Looking to be the dark horse of the celebrities. This model/actor is dedicated and  fast at the onset of training, but his consistency needs work. The media guys have been hot on the tails of this guy during practice; he faltered during time trials, which he paid dearly in terms of grid position.  Will he charm his way to the top?

Brawn corner

James Deakin

One of the crowd favorites from the start as he topped the time charts in practice sessions but cracked in qualifying. Redemption comes two months late. Will this work to his advantage or disadvantage?

Vince Pornelos

Impressively faster every session. Part of the media trifecta, his disadvantage is weight, but he starts behind Phoemela on the second position and hopes to take advantage when she makes a mistake. Watch out for him in the first corner.

Jeff Reyes

Has posted some of the fastest times in practice, and his kart racing experience has given him the advantage against his nemesis, Deakin. He qualified before him, but will he be able to hold James off without letting Vince get away. This “David and Goliath” battle has left us wondering who the real giant is and who will emerge the victor.

Aris Ilagan

Is steady in practice and will pounce on the first opportunity his coracers make a mistake; can emerge as the silent killer, er, winner or just silent.

Brian Afuang

Another motoring veteran but insists on being part of the celebrity group.  He has joined several kart races and definitely has an ace up his sleeve; he will need to overtake Iñigo Roces and Jinno Rufino to join the top fielders’ battle. But hey, anything is possible.

Iñigo Roces

An epic midfield battle between Iñigo and Brian will happen; but if the Top 3 media guys (Vince, Jeff and James) manage to screw up each other’s race, it will be between these two against Baranda and Rufino in a monstrous beauty versus brawn battle.

Botchi Santos

This is Santos’ first real racing experience. He qualified in front of more experienced racer Aris Ilagan, which is definitely a feather on his hat (and Aris will never hear the end of it). Will his beginner’s luck take him to the top spot during the race?

The nice thing about circuit racing is that anything can happen. You can start from the back with no chance of winning only to emerge on top when the checkered flag drops. But definitely, come Jan. 25, everyone is a winner, the racers, the racing enthusiast and spectators. See how this drama will unfold with the backdrop of festivities at the Clark International Speedway. Entrance is free; special activities such as karting, bungee jumping and a concert by Sponge Cola, Oktaves and Ely Buendia are all part of the Waku Doki Experience presented by the Toyota Vios.

For more information, visit Toyota.com.ph.