Ambition Realized: This is Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines
TMP establishes their own works racing team
For more than a decade, the premier grassroots racing series built around the country’s best selling four door sedan, has been a venue for aspiring young drivers to turn their racing dreams into reality. That is the goal, and that is what the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup has delivered season after season since its beginnings as the Toyota Vios Cup.
This year Toyota Motor Philippines, led by TMP president Masando Hashimoto, has a new mission: a fully-fledged works team that will race as Toyota’s own.
They will be known as Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines.
“As TGR we have the responsibility to spread and grow the motorsport culture in the Philippines,” said Masando Hashimoto, TMP President. “If motorsports helps us make ever better cars, we can make people better through motorsport too.”
Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines will be composed of young and experienced racers alike, many of which have competed before in the different classes of the TGR Philippine Cup, as well as other domestic racing events. Some are even virtual-to-reality racing drivers, as many have honed their racecraft online before unleashing their potential on the racing circuit.
Whichever the case, these four drivers will fulfill the ultimate racer’s dream: to drive for a factory works team.
Russel Reyes – Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing #7 – Sporting Class
First on the list is Russel Reyes. He may be just 23 and fresh out of Bulacan State University, but Russel has already racked up a lot of mileage as a racing driver. Russel started out as an avid sim racer, and is already a champion in many virtual racing events after having competed in the Toyota GR GT Cup, the Ferrari HP Esports Championship, the Malaysia E-racing Championship, and more.
Russel turned that racing passion into wins on the racing circuit, turning his analytical and data driven approach into competitive results in multiple Formula V1 endurance events. But the jewels on his crown were his championships in the GT Cup Autocross Class in the 2023 TGR Vios Cup, and as the Novice Class champion at the 2024 TGR Philippine Cup behind the wheel of a Toyota Vios.
Jan Millard Lacuna – Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing #6 – Sporting Class
Lacuna has always been an avid sim racer in his youth, culminating with a shot at a prestigious international Gran Turismo-based series abroad. That may not have panned out, but Jamil kept his skills sharp, competing in many local trackdays, sprints, and endurance racing events like the Vitz Challenge, Kalayaan Cup, and Bonifacio Cup.
He was waiting for another chance, and he got it. As an engineering graduate of Mapua and journalist with AutoIndustriya, Jamil was called upon to race a full season at TGR Philippine Cup. He experienced setbacks that made him stronger, culminating in a strong second place finish in the Novice standings thanks to solid, dominant wins in races.
This year he will get another shot in the Sporting Class. Now armed with more experience, he is ready to go flat out.
Kody Ng – Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines #9 – Sporting Class
At 22 years old, Kody is the youngest of the squad and will be driving car #8 in the TGR Philippine Cup Sporting Class for Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines. His youth, however, hides the fact that he comes to the 2025 season of the TGR Philippine Cup with plenty of experience racing and winning.
His bright orange Toyota Yaris has been a mainstay of several autocross and sprint race championships. He competed in various endurance races, taking class wins and overall wins driving various cars. And in 2024, he secured several hard fought wins at the TGR Philippine Cup on a partial championship. Now he moves to the works team for a full season, and is ready to bring his A game to the Sporting Class.
Julian Tang – Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines #28 – Legacy Class
Bringing more experience to the group is 30-year old Julian Tang who will be racing in the Legacy Class featuring previous editions of the Toyota Vios in the TGR Philippine Cup. Julian is no stranger to competition, and definitely a familiar face in the TGR Philippine Cup paddock.
Julian took 2nd place in the Promotional class in 2019, then moved up to the Sporting Class in 2021, and to the Super Sporting Class in 2022. The challenge seems to be what he lives for, and even raced the single seater Formula V1 , taking a second overall in his class.
Team TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines is ready to get into action in this exciting 2025 season of the TGR Philippine Cup. If you want to catch Russel, Jamil, Kody and Julian in action, visit any of the races this season which starts this weekend at the Clark International Speedway.
