After securing the GWA Asian Karter of the Year award in 2023, Danzel Waytan has made a successful transition into cars after completing a solid debut in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup. The 16-year-old went on to claim back-to-back podiums in the Sprint races followed by a sensational win at the 1.5 hour Endurance.
Danzel signed for a full season with Ribbon Arc Motorsports to be re-united with ex-karting coach and reigning Super Sporting Class champion John Dizon. While he would have wanted a bit more track time in the Gen 2 Vios Cup OMR cup car, he only had a handful of test days before the season opener. This explains why he was at the tail end of the time sheets during Free Practice. But despite his lack of experience, Danzel managed to close the gap during Qualifying and was only less than a second off pole in the Sporting Class.
All his hard work, however, came undone after he stalled on the start line of Race 1 and dropped to dead last. Unwilling to give up, he got his head down and chased after the pack, picking up places lap-after-lap. Danzel eventually found himself in a podium position, which he successfully defended all the way to the chequered flag to claim 3rd place on his TGR Philippine Cup debut.
The Ribbon Arc Motorsports driver had to get his elbows out in Race 2 as he fought for position. Although he struggled for outright pace, Danzel held his own in a train of cars in the Sporting Class to cross the finish line 4th on the road. But he was later promoted to 2nd place after post-race penalties were handed out, earning him another spot on the podium.
His best result from the weekend would come during the Endurance. With confidence from his earlier podium finishes, Danzel immediately went for the class lead at the start of the race. However, he was hampered by poor weather conditions, which slowed him down. This caused Danzel to lose several places before stopping for the mandatory tire change at mid-race distance. Now on a fresh set of tires, he was able to catch up to the front runners one-by-one ’til he was back in the class lead. But a drive-through penalty for botched pit stop again dropped him to P2. Thankfully, he had such a significant lead that he was able to rejoin right behind the class leader. It was then just a matter of retaking the top spot and holding position until the finish line for Danzel to secure 1st place after 1.5 hours of non-stop driving.
Following in the footsteps of his uncle Gerard Loy, Danzel is now also a full-fledged touring car driver in the newly-renamed TGR Philippine Cup. His goal is to his momentum when the championship resumes on September 27/28 for Round 2.
Danzel Waytan: “I feel ecstatic after my first weekend in the TGR Philippine Cup. With 2 podiums and a win in the Endurance race, we are now leading the Sporting Class championship. Thank you to JD Motorsports, Ribbon Arc, and to all our mechanics for taking care of me and giving me a great car. Lastly, thank you to my grandparents for always supporting me.”
[Photos courtesy of Productivv Crew]
