Countdown for Vios Cup season on

TMP president Michonobu Sugata, vice chair Alfred Ty and other company executives join the official race drivers in a photo-op during a preseason dinner. Photos by Eugene Araneta

THE VIOS race cars are prepared for the practice runs.

For years, driving a Toyota has left that strong imprint of indescribable thrill and satisfaction among Filipino drivers and even achieved its own credible championship racing tradition in Philippine Motorsports history.

This year, the young generation of Toyota drivers will have the chance to get the feel of the same experience through the 2014 Season of the Vios Cup which will kick off on May 24 at the Clark International Speedway.

Michinobu Sugata, president of Toyota Motor Philippines, aptly called it “Waku-Doki” when Toyota Motor Philippines successfully staged the Vios Cup Exhibition Race last Jan. 25 at the Clark International Speedway.  This was attended by over 6,000 gearheads and racing fans; a staggering number of guests considering that motorsports in the country is not yet as popular as other sports events.

Using Toyota’s champion vehicle Vios, racers experienced the thrill of racing through this very fun and safe vehicle, as Sugata sees it not just as a motorsports event but a full-on Waku-Doki Festival promoting heart-racing fun whether you are a car enthusiast or not.

TMP EXECUTIVES and staff get a feel of the forthcoming races on their own track day at Clark Speedway. photo: facebook page of Jp Tuason

And that’s how he expects the upcoming 2014 Vios Cup to be as he welcomed the various teams, its owners, their respective drivers and media friends in a preseason dinner last April 30 at the 100 Revolving Restaurant.

Excited, eager

“I am both excited and eager to see you all on the race track, battle it out wheel to wheel!  At this point, allow me to remind all of you that the safety of the racers as well as the spectators is most important for us. Although this is a competition, at the same time, this should also be a collaborative event among the racers.

“We expect that the racers will praise a good fight with each other by witnessing that everybody is safe after the race, as we did in the exhibition race last January. We believe this is a true spirit of motorsports, which I would like all of you to bear in mind.

“I am very happy to invite you, your family and friends to the first season of the Vios Cup next month to experience what Toyota means by Waku Doki,” Sugata said.

In the same preseason dinner, Sugata expressed gratitude to Bridgestone for providing the High-Performance R.E. Series Racing Tires, Rota for their Grid Racing Series Wheels, Motul for the TRD lubricants, Denso for their Iridium Spark Plugs and OMP for their race equipment as the support of various organizations will again breathe life and ensure sustainability of motorsports in the Philippines.

Banner program

TOYOTA Quezon Avenue team

The 2014 Vios Cup Vios Cup is a banner program of Toyota Motor Philippines that represents the Waku-Doki concept to bring back the fun and excitement of driving a Toyota.

It is open to anybody with a valid driver’s license and knows how to drive manual transmission.  Underage participants must know how to drive or have competed in other forms of motorsports, and must provide a written certification from their parents and guardian that allows them to participate. They must also possess the needed driving skills.

Competing drivers must also have AAP Racing License National C or below.

A total of 30 racers will battle it out for podium finishes as they immerse themselves in true Waku-Doki-style racing, driving the dashing race-ready Toyota Vios.

THE TOYOTA Balintawak/Otis/Marilao/North Edsa representatives

The grid includes celebrities like Rhian Ramos, Sam YG, Fabio Ide, Jinno Rufino and Phoemela Baranda, the celebrity winner for the Vios Cup Exhibition Race. Five media men will also join the title hunt: Ardie Lopez racing for C! Magazine, Anjo Perez of Manila Bulletin, Christopher Kho who will be racing for Time Attack Manila, Ira Panganiban for Autocar and Manny delos Reyes for PhilStar.

Gunning for the top plum are Alvin Ng of TAI (Car No. 15), Basti Escalante of TOT (Car No. 77), Bryan Co of TLU (Car No. 55). Carlos Castañeda of TAI (Car No. 69), Carlos Loinaz of TBT (Car No. 44),  Charlie Cojuangco of TDG (Car No. 99),  Ferdie Raquelsantos of TMI (Car No. 78), Iñaki Araneta of TAI (Car No. 23),  Jason Chuachoy of TBK (Car No. 37), Jeje Villena of TAI (Car No. 21), Juan Nolasco of TBK (Car No. 19), Kyle Reyes (Car No. 38), Luis Gono of TNE (Car No. 17),  Ronnie Maristela of TQA, Paul Ang of Toyota Marilao, Pauland Dumlao of TSF (Car No. 18), Robert Liles of Toyota Shaw (Car No. 88), Sean Smith of TQA (Car No. 25)  and Tonton Ramos of TQA (Car No. 33).

Fun for all

SUGATA delivers a speech

The official practice  and the Qualifying Time Trials are set Friday, while the two races are set Saturday.

TMP officials with Vios Cup organizer JP Tuason (third from right)

For car enthusiasts and spectators, the fun starts at 10 in the morning on May 24, Saturday.  Fun-filled activities for kids and kids-at-heart are also being lined up for this grand event with exciting side activities like games, concert, selling opportunities and fans day.

Several drifting exhibitions with the one and only Drift King, Keiichi Tsuchiya, are also being prepared. Aside from the racing competition, rock it out in the evening with a free concert to end this Waku-Doki Festival on a high note.

After the kick-off race, the other legs are set July 25-26 and Aug. 22-23, both at the Clark International Speedway,  while the final race will be  announced later.

For more updates and information, you may visit www.toyota.com.ph or Toyota’s official Facebook page at ToyotaMotorPhilippines.