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MANILA: For the past three months, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) hosted the country’s first electronic motorsports program, the GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines.
The goal was to find the best and fastest riders in the country 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 riders emerged as the fastest in their respective categories: Terence Lallave in the Sports Class, Johann Lance Padilla in the Promotional Class (with no professional esports experience) and José Altoveros in the Media and Celebrity Class . They are pictured above with TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto (second from left).
Lallave, a 35-year-old businessman and former racetrack instructor, competed in the class comprised of e-racers with professional simulation racing experience.
“I am really surprised to be here right now and I will be the representative of the Philippines. I am very grateful to Toyota for providing this opportunity because we were basically able to show what Filipinos can do in esports racing. And it’s a very good way for sim racing and e-sports to grow here in the Philippines, “Lallave said.
Padilla, 24, is the youngest of the winners. He is a 24-year-old aircraft mechanic who outperformed competitors with no professional esports experience.
“I joined the GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines because I think this is the opportunity I was waiting for. Last year, I told myself that ‘Gran Turismo’ will take me to places playing and racing in it. When Toyota posted About this event that can lead to represent 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 the 2019 Vios Racing Festival Autocross Challenge.
“Other than planning, I guess the only thing we can do is keep practicing at home and race together. At the end of the day, it’s a team race. Even if there is only one winner, we all represent the Philippines and it doesn’t matter who reaches the top. whenever we will fly the Philippine flag in the tournament, “Altoveros said.
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 broadcast on October 25, 2020 via the official TMP Facebook page www.facebook.com/toyotamotorphilippines. For more information, visit the official website at toyota.com.ph/gtcup.
“We are very grateful for the passion and enthusiasm that Filipino gamers and e-motorsports fans have shown over the course of our inaugural GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines. We hope that our champions will do their best to represent us well in the Asian Regional Round. We will continuously support them and hopefully their success will inspire many more Filipino runners to follow this sport in which we can truly excel. Due to the success of the first season, we will seriously consider organizing another tournament in the future. ” said Sherwin, TMP’s first vice president of vehicle sales operations.
Photo by Toyota Motor Philippines
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