Drivers deliver heart-pumping action in technical circuit down South
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) held Race Weekend 3 of the 2026 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup, TMP’s premier racing series, last August 15 at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC). This marked the TGR Philippine Cup’s first time in BRC in its 13-year run.
The decision to bring the series to a new track comes in line with TGR’s mantra of pushing the limits for better by bringing the prestigious racing championship to territory that’s challenging, serving as a test that’s tough enough for both drivers and cars alike.
TMP continued the use of biofuels in Race Weekend 3, which also served as the second leg of its “rolling laboratory” as it pursues its mission to advance more sustainable motorsports. The Vios one-make race car or OMR continues to be powered by an E20 bio-ethanol blend, while the Tamaraw OMR runs on a B5 coco-biodiesel blend.
Once again taking the track for Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines were TMP President Masando Hashimoto, Justin “Buzzhype” Santos, Chenee Jimenez, Alex Lim aka BanaweBoy, Will Lucas, and Enzo Ison, who finished third in the Tamaraw Class Sprint Race 8 that day.
The action of the weekend started intense and physical as the first race of the event, the mixed Sporting and Super Sporting Class Sprint Race 8 and Legacy Class Sprint Race 6, began with a dramatic and chaotic multi-car collision not even 10 seconds into lights out. The incident saw one car, that of Julia de los Angeles, spin out into the track and get taken out of the running.
The chaos of the opening moments of that race led Red Diwa to take first in the Super Sporting Class, which he maintained throughout the entire sprint. Alain Alzona passed Michael Bryan Co in that race to finish third on the podium, while Joaquin Garrido secured second place.
Another tense moment happened in the last race of the day, the Tamaraw Class Sprint Race 9, where TGR driver Enzo Ison’s car, dragged down with debris hanging from its side, collided with the car of teammate Will Lucas and spun out of control. Jesse Garcia, who won the Tamaraw Class Sprint Race 7, and Russel Reyes also got taken out with collisions late in the race.
Raymond Cudala took the lead very early in that same race, which left a nailbiter race for those aiming to secure a podium finish. The spots were eventually taken by Iñigo Anton and Oliver Aquino, respectively.
Alzona, who had two first-place finishes in three Super Sporting Class sprints that day, displayed calm, collected, and confident driving, secured his top spot in Sprint Race 9 with a masterful pass on the leading Michael Bryan Co just before the first turn. Co tried to stay close to take back the lead, but Alzona maintained his defense and composed driving to retain his spot all throughout and win the race.
“Batangas Racing Circuit is a true racer’s track—fast, technical, and relentlessly demanding. For drivers who trust their craft, BRC has long been a dream circuit: a place that tests both skill and courage. As BRC celebrates its 30th anniversary, I am incredibly proud that TMP was able to bring the TGR Philippine Cup here for the very first time,” shared TMP President Masando Hashimoto.
Below is the full list of winners from Race Weekend 3:
| LEGACY CLASS – SPRINT RACE 5 | ||
| 1st | Paolo Ang | Madkart – R Racing |
| 2nd | Gabie Desales | Gel Napat Racing – R Racing |
| 3rd | Oliver Estrella | Oliver Autoworx |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS – SPRINT RACE 7 | ||
| 1st | Alain Gabriel Alzona | Toyota Gensan / Davao Racing |
| 2nd | Michael Bryan Co | R Racing – TDG Group |
| 3rd | Red Diwa | Toyota Isabela |
| SPORTING CLASS – SPRINT RACE 7 | ||
| 1st | Bern Zaragoza | Resultado Racing |
| 2nd | Joshua David Marquez | Obengers Racing |
| 3rd | Mike Santos | R Racing – TDG Group |
| TAMARAW CLASS – SPRINT RACE 7 | ||
| 1st | Jesse Garcia | Obengers Racing |
| 2nd | Iñigo Anton | Obengers Racing |
| 3rd | Potenciano Andaman II | Obengers Racing |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS – SPRINT RACE 8 | ||
| 1st | Red Diwa | Toyota Isabela |
| 2nd | Joaquin Garrido | Obengers Racing |
| 3rd | Alain Gabriel Alzona | Toyota Gensan / Davao Racing |
| SPORTING CLASS – SPRINT RACE 8 | ||
| 1st | Joshua David Marquez | Obengers Racing |
| 2nd | Bern Zaragoza | Resultado Racing |
| 3rd | Mike Santos | R Racing – TDG Group |
| TAMARAW CLASS – SPRINT RACE 8 | ||
| 1st | Iñigo Anton | Obengers Racing |
| 2nd | Oliver Aquino | Toyota Bicutan Racing Team |
| 3rd | Enzo Ison | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines |
| LEGACY CLASS – SPRINT RACE 6 | ||
| 1st | Paolo Ang | Madkart – R Racing |
| 2nd | Gabie Desales | Gel Napat Racing – R Racing |
| 3rd | Oliver Estrella | Oliver Autoworx |
| SPORTING CLASS – SPRINT RACE 9 | ||
| 1st | Bern Zaragoza | Resultado Racing |
| 2nd | Joshua David Marquez | Obengers Racing |
| 3rd | Raymond Paul N. Base | ERA Autosport |
| SUPER SPORTING CLASS – SPRINT RACE 9 | ||
| 1st | Alain Gabriel Alzona | Toyota Gensan / Davao Racing |
| 2nd | Michael Bryan Co | R Racing – TDG Group |
| 3rd | Red Diwa | Toyota Isabela |
| TAMARAW CLASS – SPRINT RACE 9 | ||
| 1st | Raymond Cudala | R Racing – Toyota Dagupan |
| 2nd | Iñigo Anton | Obengers Racing |
| 3rd | Oliver Aquino | Toyota Bicutan Racing Team |
For fans who want more motorsports action, the TGR Philippine Cup is holding its fourth and final Race Weekend on September 10-12 at the Clark International Speedway.
With the success of Race Weekend 3 and the legs that came before it, TMP continues to push the limits of innovation, doing its part to help create a more sustainable future in both motorsports and mobility.
The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup is brought to you by Official Tire Partner GT Radial, Official Engine Oils Partner Petron RevX and Petron Blaze Racing, Official Partner TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Academy and Premier Race Partner DENSO. In cooperation with MOMO Italy, PIAA, Sparco Philippines, Toyota Financial Services Philippines, Autoplus, ROTA, and VARTA. This event is also supported by 3M, AVT, QUAD, myToyota Wallet, OMP, Tuason Racing Sports Unlimited, Brakes by AutoPerformance, GENCHEM, Toyota Tsusho, and Toyota Aisin. Contributing sponsors are Aguila Auto Glass, Kinto One, AutoQuix, HKR Philippine Inc, Technol Eight, and Sun Logistics Technology Inc.
For more information on the TGR Philippine Cup and other TGR events, visit https://toyota.com.ph/tgrphilippines and follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. Follow TMP’s official pages—ToyotaMotorPH on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and join the Viber community at Toyota PH for updates.