Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is celebrating the brand’s passion for cars and racing by bringing the heart-pumping action into the city. With a two-day event at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival 2023 is poised to become the biggest gathering of motorsport fans and enthusiasts.
Local racing stars will exhibit their skills in drifting and gymkhana using the latest GR Supra, GR Yaris, and GR 86 with the likes of 6-time Lateral Drift Champion Alex Perez, Vios Cup Champion Luis Gono, and TGR Ambassador Marlon Stockinger behind the wheel. Celebrity driver Ryan Agoncillo will also make an appearance to demo the TGR Vios Cup.
But what we really want to see is the Toyota Yaris WRC and Red Bull GR Corolla that TMP will bring in just for the event. From what we understand, these are the real deal (and not just some replica) and will do demo runs on site.
The Yaris WRC should be the same (or similar) to what Toyota Gazoo Racing campaigned throughout the 2017 to 2021 seasons in the World Rally Championship. It’s based on the previous generation Toyota Vitz and took the brand to two Constructors’ and three Drivers’ Championships.
The Red Bull GR Corolla, on the other hand, as we believe is the car used by Kalle Rovanpera on his Formula Drift Japan debut at Ebisu Circuit, which he also won. Whether it’s the exact same car or not, we do not know.
Driving the two world-class machineries will be Katsuta Norihiko and Sasaki Masahiro who are part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team in Japan. However, the real star of the TGR Festival is Morizo (aka Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda) who will fly in not just to make an appearance, but also join the driving exhibitions. Morizo is regarded to be as one of the men behind Toyota Gazoo Racing and Toyota’s shift towards making cars that are fun to drive.
Other things that are happening during the TGR Festival are the 2023 TGR Gran Turismo Cup (GT Cup) National Finals and nightly performances by local artists. Ben & Ben and OPM legend Ely Buendia will take the stage on the first day followed by back-to-back performances from Parokya ni Edgar and Kamikazee on the second day of the event.
The TGR Festival is taking place on the 23rd and 24th of August 2023 at the Quirino Grandstand. Admission is free by registering at toyotagrfestivalph.com.
[Photos courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool / Toyota Gazoo Racing]
