5 reasons you should watch the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival on Aug. 23-24

When you’re the number-one automaker in the Philippines and you’re celebrating your 35th anniversary, nothing less than the best will do.

In the case of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), it’s kicking off over three decades of local operations with the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival, which will be held on Aug. 23 to 24, 2023 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

GAZOO Racing (GR) is the Japanese automaker’s motorsports division, producing not only championship-winning racing cars, but also high-performance models like the Toyota GR Supra, Toyota GR 86 and Toyota GR Yaris.

Here are five reasons you should head over to the GR Festival!

Meet ‘Morizo’

TMP is bringing in a very special racing driver to show off his awesome moves at the event.

“Morizo” is Toyota’s “master driver,” who helped develop many of Toyota’s GR models. You may also know him as Akio Toyoda, the chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation and grandson of company founder Kiichiro Toyoda.

Morizo will hold exciting driving exhibitions on Aug. 23, 2023.

See masters in action

Joining Morizo is a complement of international and homegrown racing talents.

Toyota GR drivers Norihiko Katsuta and Masahiro Sasaki will showcase legendary race cars that have run the rally courses of global racing events – the Toyota WRC Yaris and Corolla D1.

Meanwhile, local talents Alex Perez, Luis Gono, Marlon Stockinger and Ryan Agoncillo will also be performing drifting and gymkhana exhibitions at the festival.

Sim racing championship

The Toyota GR Festival will also hold a major event for the sim racing community.

The Toyota GAZOO Racing Gran Turismo Cup Philippines, which is the country’s largest sim-racing competition, will hold its National Finals on Aug. 24, 2023 at 1 p.m.

Winners of the local series will represent the Philippines at the TGR GT Cup Asia Regional Finals, taking on the best e-racers from neighboring Asian countries.

In addition, winners of the TGR GT Cup Philippines 2023 will race in the next season of the TGR Vios Cup using the Toyota Vios One-Make Race Car. 

Live entertainment

Some of the Philippines’ top musical acts will provide a thumping soundtrack to add to the excitement of the Toyota GR Festival.

Check out their schedules below:

• Ely Buendia – Aug. 23, 2023 (12:15 p.m.)

• Ben&Ben – Aug. 23, 2023 (5:30 p.m.)

• Kamikazee – Aug. 24, 2023 (1:30 p.m.)

• Parokya ni Edgar – Aug. 24, 2023 (7:00 p.m.)

All free!

Before I forget, the entrance fee to the Toyota GR Festival is absolutely zero!

And for those who want a memento from this momentous event, there’s official GR merchandise available onsite.

Don’t forget to register online through this link!

AutoFun Philippines will be at the Toyota GR Festival to cover all the cool events. See you there!

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