Andy Ty, Assistant Vice President for Marketing Services of Toyota Motor Philippines says Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) will now have a dedicated team within the automaker to handle everything related to TGR.

At the helm is Juan Carlos Gaon who will serve as the Gazoo Racing Section Supervisor.

Among the plans would be to offer an even better sales and aftersales service to owners of both GR and GR Sport vehicles. It would also mean better training and support to GR accredited dealers, the only sales channel where Toyota’s high-performance GR vehicles such as the GR 86, GR Yaris, and GR Supra can be purchased and serviced.

Outward, TGR will gain a more unique identity compared, especially when it comes to marketing and promotions. Plans are already in place to build on the success of this year’s Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup. With the final race weekend done and dusted, focus shifts to its eSports racing series, the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup for the rest of 2025.

For 2026, Ty confirmed that the next-generation Tamaraw will join the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup. It will, however, not be a replacement to the Vios which will continue to race next year. Instead, it will be separate class altogether.

The target would be to have 30 next-generation Tamaraw one-make race (OMR) utility vehicles join the 70 or so Vios cars. The sheer number of cars participating could possibly extend each race weekend to a three-day format as opposed to the current two-day format.

Meanwhile, Gaon confirmed that Toyota Gazoo Racing is targeting to price the next-generation Tamaraw OMR utility vehicle at around P 1.5-million which is roughly the same price as the Vios OMR car when it was first launched.

Ty says the target would be to keep the Tamaraw OMR utility vehicle as stock as possible in terms of powertrain. Building up from the Tamaraw Racing Concept which made its debut at Villar City, TGR official partner Autoplus has continued work centered around handling. For race weekend three, the exhibition race Tamaraw OMRs feature Tein suspension, a rear Limited Slip Differential (LSD), Rays wheels, upgraded tires, and Project mu brakes. This is on top of required safety equipment such as a roll cage, safety harness, and bucket seats.

Plans are under consideration to offer these parts and accessories to current Tamaraw owners, says Gaon.

Autoplus’ Luis Gono reveals that during their tests, the Tamaraw OMRs can lap the 4.189-kilometer Clark International Speedway in around 2 minutes 30 seconds—putting it at almost the same lap times as the Vios Novice Class OMRs.

Aside from the Tamaraw OMR utility vehicle, Ty says work will continue the Tamaraw Drag Racer which showcases the full potential of Toyota’s utility vehicle platform. At the last leg of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup, the Autoplus modified Tamaraw is already doing 370 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque at the wheels. Ty isn’t discounting Toyota joining other motorsports disciplines such as drag racing and even rallycross which have their own strong and dedicated following in the country.

Photos by OwlLumetri Media