After three intense rounds of online racing since July, Toyota Motor Philippines, Inc. has finally announced the three class champions of the Toyota GR Supra GT Asia Cup Philippines who will represent the country in the upcoming Supra Cup GT Asia regional races this October.
The three champions – Terence Lallave of the Sporting Class, Johann Lance Padilla of the Promotional Class, and Media/Influencer Class Campion Jose Luis Altoveros, edged out more than 108 other e-racers from all over the country by earning the most championship points over three online rounds of the series.
Lallave, a 16-year veteran e-racer and online content creator who competes in various racing tournaments around the world, won the final round which was virtually raced at the Fuji International Speedway.
Benefitting from the reverse-grid start in the championship race, Lallave worked his way up to first place from third on the grid. “I wasn’t really expecting anything to be honest. I just tried to drive consistently and enjoy every round,” says the 35-year old multi-titled online racer.
With points earned in the final race getting double the weight, Lallave was able to overcome a 28-point deficit to previous championship points leader Luis Moreno who suffered a time penalty and was held back by traffic during the final race.
Johann Lance Padilla on the other hand, proved that consistency is crucial in racing. Despite not having won any of the three Supra Cup rounds, Padilla’s top three finishes in every race was enough to earn him the class championship and the right to represent the country in the regional races.
“I joined GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines because I think this is the chance I’ve been waiting for,” says Padilla. “Just last year, I told myself that Gran Turismo will lead me to places by playing and racing in it. When Toyota posted about this event that may lead to representing our country, I joined immediately.”
In the end, with double the points to earn in the final race, the 24-year old aircraft mechanic and businessman garnered enough championshop points to beat round 3 winner, Lance Guballa.
Taking the final slot to carry the Philippine flag in the Supra GT Asia Cup regional races is writer and photographer Jose Luis Altoveros. Quick and consistent, Altoveros posted the fastest times at every lap of the Media/ Influencer Class shootouts to come out on top.
He believes that as a team, the Philippines will be able to represent the country well in its first foray into the Supra GT Asia Cup. “Even if there’s just one winner, we’re all representing the Philippines and it doesn’t matter who gets to the top as long as we raise the Philippine flag in the tournament,” shares the motoring scribe.
“We are very thankful for the passion and enthusiasm that Filipino gamers and e-motorsports fans have shown during the course of our inaugural GR Supra GT Cup Asia Philippines,” says Sherwin Chualim, First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations of TMP. “We expect our champions to do their best to represent us well in the Asian Regional Round. We will continuously support them, and hopefully, their success inspires a lot more Filipino racers to pursue this sport that we really can excel in.”
He adds, “Because of the success of the first season, we will seriously consider staging another tournament in the future.”
The Asian Regional Round of the GR Supra GT Cup Asia hosted by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will be streamed on October 25, 2020 via TMP’s official Facebook page www.facebook.com/toyotamotorphilippines. For more information, visit the official website at toyota.com.ph/gtcup.
MAIN PHOTO shows Toyota Motor Philippines president Hiro Okamoto and the three class winners
