Vios Autocross Challenge: Troy Montero Fastest out of 70 drivers

Troy Montero clocks in Fastest Time of the day.

Celebrity driver Troy Montero showed up the 70 drivers who competed at the Vios Autocross Challenge serving as the opening leg of the Vios Racing Festival over the weekend at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.

Going head to head with nemesis Fabio Ide, Montero submitted the fastest time of the day as he upstaged even the veteran racers in the field.

So impressive was Montero that the actor bested his lap result every time he set out on the track.

Vios Car Club Division winner Carlos “Inigo” Anton, the 14-year-old son of racing champion Carlos, clocked in the second best time of the day at 1:11.13, and Mickey Carbonell posted the third best time at 1:12.23.

The 70 drivers were divided into 4 divisions Media, Celebrities, Influencers, and Vios Car Clubs. The two-day event served as the opening of the Vios Racing festival which is the expanded One-Make-Race program. Coming from the successful five-season stint of the Vios Cup, Toyota created a more inclusive format with the addition of the Vios Autocross Challenge.

Toyota takes Filipinos one step closer to the Racing Dream. The Vios Autocross Challenge is an amateur friendly competition which gives racing enthusiast easier access into motorsports.  The motto of the Toyota program has always been

“everybody can race”; now with this addition to the successful Vios One Make Race (OMR) program, Filipinos can have a taste of racing before diving into circuit racing.

Power couple Troy Montero and wife Aubrey Miles

Autocross is a timed competition wherein drivers navigate through an obstacle course one at a time, aiming to finish the track within the shortest lap time possible. Because it’s a maneuver centric racing discipline, the stringent safety requirements for circuit racing such roll cages, bucket seats, and 5 point harness are optional. The use of helmets and protective gear, however, are required.

“Toyota wants to make racing an accessible sport for the ordinary Filipino by providing an extraordinary opportunity to get themselves started, fueled by their passion for motorsports,” said Satoru Suzuki, president of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) during the opening ceremonies.

The Autocross Challenge also marked the introduction of the new Vios Race Car which is now available for P1.4 million.

The 2019 celebrity team was also introduced with the addition of Gerald Anderson and  Daniel Matsunaga. Both matinee idols will now race against Chie Filomeno, Gretchen Ho, Aubrey Miles, Troy Montero, and 2018 celebrity champion Fabio Ide.

Celebrity racers with Toyota PH president Satoru Suzuki and other officials

More races to come

“This is only the first of many Toyota racing events, as succeeding legs of the Vios Racing Festival are all geared up for 2019. Toyota shall continue to showcase the reliability of the Vios on-and-off the tracks, making it a car worthy of the pride of the Filipino people.” Suzuki said.

The event is a prelude to the opening of the Vios Circuit Championship which will run simultaneously with the Vios Autocross Challenge on June 8,  August 31 and Nov 9, 2019 at the Clark International Speedway.

The 2019 Vios Racing Festival is supported by Bridgestone, Petron, Motul, Rota, Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, OMP, and

Tuason Racing.