2024 TGR Philippine Cup season ends with spectacular finish

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) just capped another exciting 2024 season of its motorsports program. Slated this November 8 to 9, the final race weekend of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup held at the Clark International Speedway in Mabalacat, Pampanga pitted over 30 racers coming from various areas in the country.

The weekend kicked off with the Sprint Races for the Novice, Promotional, Sporting and Super Sporting classes, which were followed by the grueling 1.5-hour Endurance Race.

The culminating races proved to be crucial since they were deemed to be the determining factor for the overall winners of the season.

Sprint Race 5

For the Novice category, motoring journo, Jamil Lacuna, outclassed fellow contenders in his class to capture first place. He was respectively followed by sim-racer Russel Reyes and another mediaman, Pablo Salapantan.

In the Promotional Class, Bong Garbes of Team Inbox-Toyota San Fernando earned top honors; while Mike Santos of R Racing Team clinched second place and Miguel Abano of DRQ Motorsport settled for the last spot on the podium. Series frontrunner, Julia de los Angeles, unfortunately, wasn’t able to finish the race due to engine failure.

Darrel Garbes of Inbox-Toyota San Fernando, meanwhile, ruled the Sporting Class. Trailing behind him were Paolo Ayo of Paolo’s Cakes and Pastries – Edgesport Racing and Alain Alzona of Toyota General Santos-Chooks-to-Go-Racing.

For the cutthroat Super Sporting Class, Redi Diwa of JBT Racing – Toyota Isabela edged the competition to secure first place. While series leader, Iñigo Anton of Toyota Balintawak – Obengers Racing Team, bagged second place and female firepower, Maila Alivia also from JBT Racing – Toyota Isabela netted third.

Sprint Race 6

For the Novice Class, Pablo Salapantan brought home the bacon, while fellow journalist, John Rey San Diego and Russel Reyes settle for 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.

In the Promotional Class, again, Bong Garbes topped his class. He was followed by celebrity Ryan Agoncillo of Toyota Gazoo Racing PH and Johndale Dy of Toyota Team Cebu.

For the Sporting Class, in a surprising turn of events, newcomer Denzel Waytan of JD Motorsport – Ribbon Arc beat his rivals to the checkered flag, while Happy Hotels Racing Team’s Jay Lao bagged 2nd place and Alzona took 3rd place.

Making things more interesting were contenders in the Super Sporting Class as Russel Cabrera of Toyota Team Cebu nabbed first place. Mikey Keilani Jordan of Jordan Racing, meanwhile, secured second place and Anton settled in third.

Endurance Race

Things slowly heated up by mid-afternoon as the 1.5-Endurance Race took the pressure by a notch. For the Novice class, Lacuna took control of the pace and eventually took the win. He was followed by celebrity-influencer, Reph Bangsil and Reyes, respectively.

In the Promotional Class, again, Bong Garbes swept everyone off their feet as he topped each and every race. Girl power, de los Angeles, captured second place and Agoncillo, third place.

Alzona, meantime, took his swagger to the forefront as he led the pack in the Sporting Class. Toyota North Edsa/Otis-Obengers Racing Team then took second place and Ayo bagged third.

Anton then took the helm of the Super Sporting Class for the last time this season as he finished the race in spectacular fashion. Cabrera made sure he didn’t rain on his parade as he settled for second and Avilia for third.

Finally, here are the official results and the overall winners, together with the rest of the racers (with all their corresponding points earned) of the 2024 season.