Our wins (and loss) at the 2022 Toyota GR Vios Cup Autocross Challenge Leg 1

There we went again.

Last weekend, we at ZIGWHEELS PHILIPPINES entered, for the second time, the Autocross Challenge of the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Vios Cup. We once again vyed to set the fastest lap around a tight course against our media colleagues, on the main straight of the Clark International Speedway (CIS), in between rounds of the TGR Vios Cup Circuit races. 

In motorsports, it's known that competitors can sometimes win some and lose some. And win and lose we — Team ZIGWHEELS composed of Editor-In-Chief Kap Maceda Aguila, Managing Editor Roy Robles, and this writer — did at the 2022 TGR Vios Cup Autocross leg. Here are our ups and dows at the motorsports event. 

Wins 

Racing knowledge and promising practice laps

Two things boosted our confidence in entering our second TGR Autocross. First, we were still fresh with racing know-how from the Toyota GR Academy. That meant we had the courage to floor the throttle and slam on the brakes when needed. 

Second, we were familiar with the autocross track layout with its two U-turns connected by chichanes — it's extremely similar to the layout from last year's first TGR Autocross course. So, we were able to focus more on getting our racing lines right — while steering clear of cones and barriers as best as we can. Rules of the sport say that if we hit these, two seconds will be added to our lap time. 

Despite hitting cones during practice, Roy and Kap posted lap times  that still looked promising for an autocross win: 43.89 and 49.89 seconds, respectively. 

Getting to meet fellow racers 

It was satisfying to meet our colleagues from the motoring media, especially first-timers competing in the Promotional Media class.

Being repeat TGR Vios Cup Autocross contenders, we belonged to the Sporting Media class, and it felt great to share racing tips with our new competitors who were feeling as excited to compete as I did when I first started.  

Knockout round and podium finish!

Out of us seven drivers in the TGR Autocross Sporting Media class, only the four fastest in the semi-finals progressed to the final knockout rounds.

In these rounds, the four drivers will once again try to out-lap each other. Then, the drivers in first and second place will compete for pole, while those in third and fourth will battle for third. 

Editor-in-Chief Kap, who ranked P4 in the semis, set off in Vios Cup Car number 8 to post a faster lap time than the third placer. However, despite his best efforts, he narrowly missed third place to his competitor with the latter's time of 43.40 seconds. 

As for Roy in Vios Cup Car number 9, he maintained second place with a lap time of 43.11 seconds against the top-placing 40.35. And so, it was a podium win for him and team ZIGWHEELS — Roy ranked second in the Sporting Media class of the first leg of the 2022 TGR Vios Cup Autocross leg.   

Loss

Well, I consider this both a win and a loss. While I didn't incur time penalties in my lap time in the semis, I ranked seventh and dead last.

It's a win because my result boded well with my racing strategy of focusing on not hitting any cones rather than posting a quick lap time.

As I've learned at last year's TGR Vios Cup Autocross, I would rather finish last as a result of my being slow than incurring time penalities — lest my mood for the whole race weekend become as crummy as Max Verstappen's when he can't keep up with the race leader. 

And so, like Daniel Ricciardo with Lando Norris, this average driver will keep on smiling as he cheers for his more skilled teammates in the next legs of the 2022 Toyota GR Vios Cup Autocross in August and November.  

Photos by Dylan Afuang