Gabby Matias delivered an impressive performance in the opening round of the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup at the Riverpark Street Circuit in General Trias, Cavite. Driving the #29 Pertua Racing Toyota Vios OMR, he secured two podium finishes in the Legacy Class during one of the most challenging race weekends on the calendar.
With Armco barriers lining the 2.4 km non-permanent street circuit, there was virtually no margin for error. It rewarded bravery with a fast lap but punished even the smallest mistakes. Several drivers fell victim to the unforgiving conditions, including Gabby. The 17-year-old had a number of close calls, clipping the barriers more than once, but managed to avoid any significant damage.
Saturday morning’s Qualifying session proved to be a breakthrough for Gabby, as he delivered a strong lap to secure P2 in the Legacy Class. The result placed him firmly in podium contention and gave him a confidence boost heading into the sprint races.
Race 1 that afternoon featured a combined grid of Super Sporting and Legacy Class drivers, making the already tight circuit feel even more congested. Starting from P2 in class, Gabby opted for a measured approach, prioritizing consistency over position gains. He avoided unnecessary risks and completed 9 laps to secure his first podium finish of the weekend with 2nd place in class. Notably, he improved his best lap time by 2.608 secs compared to his qualifying run.
Sunday morning’s Race 2 presented another opportunity for Gabby to showcase his pace. Starting from P3 in class, he had a slow getaway and dropped to P4. Amid the opening lap chaos, however, he quickly regrouped and began working his way back through the field. With well-timed overtakes, he regained lost positions and ultimately secured another 2nd-place finish in class after 12 laps of racing.
He also set a new personal best lap time, improving by a full second from his Race 1 pace, highlighting his ability to adapt and improve throughout the weekend.
With guidance from Precision Speed Racing, the double podium finish marks a strong start to his first full season. As the campaign progresses, Gabby will look to build on this momentum with continued support from Pertua Racing, whose DuraSyn-powered lubrication package—combining Pertua Fully Synthetic Oil and Pertua Oil & Metal Treatment (POMT)—plays a key role in supporting performance under race conditions.
Gabby Matias: “Stepping up to the TGR Philippine Cup was both exciting and humbling, especially coming from limited race experience. The level of competition is very high, and I have a lot of respect for the drivers on the grid. I’m very grateful for the continued training with Precision Speed Racing—their guidance helped me build the discipline and confidence I needed going into the weekend. At the same time, having Pertua supporting the car gave me peace of mind. I knew everything was in place, so I just needed to stay focused and have the confidence to compete.”
Kristine Simon, Pertua Marketing Strategy and Communications Manager: “Securing two 2nd place finishes highlights Gabby’s ability to deliver consistent performance in a highly demanding race format. Sprint racing compresses timing, execution, and precision into a very short window, making control and decision-making critical. What stood out was his ability to manage pace, respond to pressure, and maximize the car’s performance without overdriving it.
At Pertua, we believe performance is driven by the synergy between driver and car. With reliable engine power and protection, the driver is able to stay focused and competitive throughout. Gabby’s results are a strong example of how consistency translates into success on the track.”
