Toyota presents Team PH competing in the GR Supra GT Cup Asia

MANILA: Over the last three months, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) hosted the country’s first-ever e-motorsports program, the GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines.

The goal was to find the best and fasters racers in the nation to compete against teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and India in the GR Supra GT Cup Asia on October 25, 2020.

After three grueling rounds, three racers emerged as the fastest in their respective categories: Terence Lallave in the Sporting Class, Johann Lance Padilla in the Promotional Class (no professional e-sports background), and Jose Altoveros in the Media & Celebrity Class. They're in the photo above with TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto (second from left).

Lallave, a 35-year-old businessman and a former racetrack instructor, competed in the class composed of e-racers with professional sim racing experience.

“I’m actually surprised that I am here right now and I’ll be the one representing the Philippines. I’m very thankful to Toyota for bringing this opportunity because we could basically show what Filipinos can do in e-sports races. And it is a very good avenue for sim racing and e-sports here in the Philippines to grow," said Lallave.

Padilla, at 24, is the youngest among the winners. He is a 24-year-old aircraft mechanic who bested competitors with no professional e-sports background.

"I joined GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines because I think this is the chance I’ve been waiting for. Just last year, I told myself that 'Gran Turismo' will lead me to places by playing and racing in it. When Toyota posted about this event that may lead to representing our country, I joined immediately," said Padilla.

Altoveros is a 25-year-old writer and photographer from Quezon City who is no stranger to TMP's motorsports activities, having won in the 2019 Vios Racing Festival's Autocross Challenge.

"Aside from planning, I guess the only thing we can do is just to keep on practicing at home and race together. At the end of the day, it is a team race. Even if there’s just one winner, we’re all representing the Philippines and it doesn’t matter who gets to the top as long as we raise the Philippine flag in the tournament," said Altoveros.

The Asian Regional Round of the GR Supra GT Cup Asia will be hosted by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific and Toyota Gazoo Racing, and will be streamed on October 25, 2020 via TMP's official Facebook page www.facebook.com/toyotamotorphilippines. For more information, visit the official website at toyota.com.ph/gtcup.

"We are very thankful for the passion and enthusiasm that Filipino gamers and e-motorsports fans have shown during the course of our inaugural GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines. We expect our champions to do their best to represent us well in the Asian Regional Round. We will continuously support them, and hopefully, their success inspires a lot more Filipino racers to pursue this sport that we really can excel in. Because of the success of the first season, we will seriously consider staging another tournament in the future," said TMP First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations Sherwin.

Photo from Toyota Motor Philippines

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