During the first half of the year, the country’s racing landscape continued to roar loudly with heroes and events, thereby significantly contributing to the robustness of the Philippine motoring industry.
Already, 2014 may produce the most number of newcomers plunging into real racing competitions and stirring up big possibilities that racing will be the next big thing to capture the hearts of Filipino sports fans.
Let’s take a look at the racing stories that mattered most during the first six months.
2014 Vios Cup One Make Series
Conceptualized by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) to rekindle the Filipinos’ love for Toyota cars, TMP president Michinobu Sugata was pleasantly surprised to witness a record-breaking event.
The Vios Cup tapped various Toyota dealer outlets to form competitive teams of talented drivers. A total of 31 cars took to the 36-car grid of the Clark International Speedway on its series launch last May to become the biggest-ever racing event in Philippine motorsports history.
Toyota’s “long romance” with Filipinos started in the ’70s with a legendary icon Dante Silverio, Toyota’s first factory driver whose charisma, inspiring feats and passion to win races captured the hearts of Filipinos. Silverio won both the International Greenhills Grand Prix and the Royal Rally of Champions in 1972 and later, as head coach of Toyota, forged the epic rivalry with Crispa in the professional basketball arena.
TMP has invited Silverio to grace the final leg of the Vios Cup for a ceremonial passing of the baton to the champion of the 2014 racing event who shall be expected to carry on Toyota’s legacy in motorsports while continuing the task of strengthening the Filipinos’ passion for Toyota cars.
After the second leg of the 2014 Vios Cup last July 26, Jason Choachuy of Toyota Balintawak pulled a big sweep to fortify his chances of becoming the pioneer champion of the event.
First-ever Euro Nascar Championship
It’s called the next best thing to the real Nascar world racing spectacle, and hosting some of the races will definitely help put the Philippines in the international racing map and provide Filipino drivers a bigger avenue to show off their world-caliber talents, and hopefully open doors to the opportunity of realizing the ultimate dream of racing in the World Formula One Championships.
Jonathan Tiu
Winning drag racing titles one after another for years now, Jonathan Tiu of JCT-Blanche Racing cemented his title as “King of Philippine Drag Racing” after he reset the all-time Philippine drag racing record by breaking the elusive eight-second barrier.
Aboard his Nissan R35, Tiu impressively clocked 8.806 seconds, shattering the previous national record of 9.023 seconds. Many say it will take some time for anybody else to eclipse that feat.
Tadahito “Dashi” Watanabe
The 2013 Superbikes Championship Series was a breakthrough season for Dashi Watanabe when he emerged the overall Superbikes champ. But he never expected the biggest blessing of his young racing career when he was named the Golden Wheel Driver of the Year in the 11th Golden Wheel Awards Night last March.
He emerged from among the strong contenders including seasoned veteran champions Jonathan Tiu of Drag Racing, Jody Coseteng of Philippine Grand Touring Car Championships and Slalom’s Dr. Peewee Mendiola.
Ducati-Aprilia superbikes rivalry
The entry of World Superbikes backer Pirelli intensified the rivalry between Ducati and Aprilia in local racing as spectators closely watched the rivalry between defending Superbikes champ Dashi Watanabe of Aprilia and former titlist Raniel Resuello of Ducati.
Since the start of the 2014 season, a big crowd flocked the racing venue. This is a big development for two-wheel racing, which four years ago had only a handful of relatives and friends watching the races and cheering on their bets.
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