It was a thrilling end to the 2024 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup with Iñigo Anton securing a pair of podium finishes and an endurance race win. This was just enough for the 20-year-old to be crowned as Super Sporting champion and the first-ever driver to win the title twice.
Thanks to a rule change ahead of the 2024 season, previous Super Sporting Class champions could now return to the series. Obengers Racing then wasted no time to call their ’22 champion back for driving duties.
Iñigo kicked off the year by landing on the podium twice and winning the endurance race, which gave him an early lead in the points standings. He then followed this up with a stellar performance in September where he won all 3 races in Round 2. Although he was able to extend his championship lead to 32.25 points, Iñigo still had to deliver solid results at the season finale if he wanted to take the title home.
Back at the Clark International Speedway (CIS) in November, the Obengers Racing driver began the weekend by setting the 2nd fastest time in Qualifying. But knowing that the champion was his to lose, Iñigo sided with caution in Race 1. Instead of fighting to the lead and risking a DNF, he maintained position and trailed another title rival all the way to the chequered flag. This would secure him 2nd place and still at the top of the point standings.
Lining up from P5 due to Race 2’s reverse grid start, however, didn’t do him any favors. Iñigo had to go on attack mode as the lights went out and moved up a spot on the opening lap. He then found a way past Red Diwa of JBT Racing x Toyota Isabela a few laps later before hounding Mikey Jordan for the P2 spot. The pair were nose-to-tail in the closing stages, but Iñgio eventually ran out of laps and settled for 3rd place.
With his pair of podiums, Iñigo only had to finish the 1.5 Hr Endurance Race in 8th to claim the title. But that didn’t stop him from ending the season on the high note. He battled for position with title rivals Russel Cabrerra of Toyota Team Cebu and Jordan in the opening stages of the race before settling down in P4. Obengers Racing then decided to play the long game and timed his pit stop perfectly to undercut his rivals. Iñigo would rejoin the race with a clear track ahead allowing him to set successive quick laps and come out with over a 6 secs lead after all the drivers have made their stops. From that point on, he simply cruised to the finish line to claim 1st place with his second Super Sporting Class title in tow.
Meanwhile, his teammates Jesse Garcia and Julia delos Angeles also secured much-needed podium finishes in their respective classes, contributing to Obengers Racing taking the Team Championship.
Iñigo Anton: “I credit all these victories to Team Obengers. Without a good team behind you, you simply can’t win championships. It’s truly a team sport, and my coaches, teammates, and mechanics are simply the best! I would like to thank sir Cosco Oben, sir Richie Uy, and everyone in the team for trusting me to represent Obengers Racing in the top class. It’s truly an honor to be an Obenger!”
Iñigo Anton is sponsored by Toyota Balintawak, Toyota North EDSA, Toyota Otis, Motul Philippine Distributor – Infiniteserv Int’l, Yokohama Philippines, Mark Young Racing, Next Level Racing, Alpinestars Philippines, Time Master Watches, Blu Coffee Distributors, JSD Autosport, MP Turbo Philippines, Axle Sports, and University of Baguio.
[Photos by Matt Romualdez]
