Vios Cup to rev up anew in April
The Vios Cup, the country’s premier one-make race series, returns April 27 at the Clark International speedway in Pampanga.
You can never have too much of a good thing, so Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is once again staging its one-make race series predicated on its popular four-door subcompact sedan.
The Vios Cup, which first rolled out in 2014 under the leadership of then president Michinobu Sugata, has cycled through four seasons of competition featuring racers of various skill levels competing with their peers — bannering Toyota’s much ballyhooed “waku-doki” slogan or “fun in driving.”
“We are excited once again to bring (this spirit) to the Filipino public through this one-make race. In the past four seasons of the Vios Cup, the largest-selling passenger car in the country has not only proven its quality, durability, and reliability but, most especially, that it is fun to drive,” said TMP president Satoru Suzuki in his speech at the recent launch event staged at the Grand Hyatt Manila. In a release, TMP reiterated its commitment to “this grassroots racing program and develop basic motorsports knowledge and racing skills in the country.”
Over 50 racers will be distributed into the Super Sporting Class, Sporting Class, and Promotional Class. Race officials are led by racer director Ferdinand Ong, clerk of course Djembar Kartasmita, local steward Vip Isada, foreign steward T. Johnson, and junior steward Bjorn Ongtiaobok.
A number of changes will be instituted to the series this year. For instance, vehicles entered in the Super Sporting Class can now be fitted with carbon fiber hoods and trunk lids to save on weight and improve speed. Stock disc brakes may be swapped with TRD rotor disc brakes for enhanced braking power. These changes can mean shaving off up to a second per lap.
New celebrity racers will be joining returning ones to up the excitement level for this spectacle that is open and free to the public. Suiting up to get behind the wheel are Diego Loyzaga, Sofia Andres, Chie Filomeno, Sam Milby – along with returning racers Gretchen Ho, Aubrey Miles, Fabio Ide and Troy Montero.
The three-round series kicks off on April 27 and 28 at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga; moves to Filinvest, Alabang from July 28 to 29; then back to Clark on September 21 and 22.
The Vios Cup Season 5 is staged in partnership with Bridgestone and ROTA, supported by Motul, Brembo, AVT, 3M, Denso, OMP, and Tuason Racing. For more information, visit the Toyota Motor Philippines official website www.toyota.com.ph . , or Toyota Motor Philippines official Facebook and Instagram page @toyotamotorphilippines.
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