TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Academy Philippines reopens

Leading mobility company and motorsport supporter Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) kicked off this year’s racing season with the reopening of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Academy Philippines (TGR Academy). With the goal of promoting the love for motorsport and continuously developing globally competitive Filipino racers, the academy welcomed a new set of drivers along with familiar faces in the racing industry.

Formerly known as the Toyota Racing School, the TGR Academy brings together motorsports enthusiasts in the country to jumpstart their journey in the exciting world of motorsports. The team of mentors and instructors is comprised of tenured racing trainers from the country with at least 10 years of experience on the track and former champions of the Toyota Vios Cup in the Philippines.

After a hiatus last year in compliance with public safety regulations, classes reopened starting with the Level 1: Basic Circuit Car Class, where future racers learn the basic skills and essential safety rules needed to properly drive a race car around the track. This class also tackles threshold braking, downshifting, racing line, and track lapping.

The theory lecture was conducted through a virtual webinar and supplemented by on-ground training at the Clark International Speedway (CIS). The Level 2: Advance Circuit Class teaches racers eyeing a position on the podium of the upcoming Toyota Vios Cup 2021.

“We’ve had a year of break because of the pandemic, but we’re back and it’s going to be a very exciting season this year. We’ve got new drivers training already with us. So, we’re looking at about 30 cars on the grid at the season this year,” shared JP Tuason, TGR Academy instructor.

Reformatted racing school program
Unlike previous racing school classes, this year’s class no longer allows students to share the vehicle with other participants to ensure the health and safety of each racer. Registrations were done online and some parts of the race class were conducted through video conferencing. Students and staff were tested upon entering the circuit at CIS.

A dedicated time slot for each batch of students was strictly followed and driving instructions were conducted through two-way radios. All equipment and vehicles were disinfected before every use.

“We’re really interested and we looked forward to this day when we can return to the track once again,” shares racing phenomenon Iñigo Anton, who participated in the Level 1 and Level 2 classes.

Working with the official One-Make-Race build of the Toyota Vios, the Level 2 students will be armed with advanced techniques and skills to make their way to the finish line. Students got the chance to have the feel of the competition through a mock race in the Level 2 race class.

Anton added, “Even though I’ve been racing for a long time, I still learn here. The classes and learnings made me a smoother and faster driver. It’s such a good program and hopefully, those people who are interested to join in racing, in general, would explore the program and start their journey here. It really teaches one all the things to know from being a beginner racer and as one progresses to the next level in racing.”

Aleksa Meily, a racing neophyte also shared, “I enrolled in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Academy because I want to put my foot in the door in the world of racing. I was very inspired after watching Formula 1, and I thought why don’t I try it, instead of just watching in front of the screen.”

The TGR Academy is a great stepping stone for anyone interested in joining the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Cup, which is slated to be back this July. This season, TMP will introduce a new batch of racers as well and is bringing back the Super Sporting class, which will be joined by the country’s seasoned racers.

This year’s TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Cup will be held in cooperation with Bridgestone, official fuel partner Petron, and supported by Motul. Other sponsors are ROTA, Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, Tuason Racing, and OMP.

The TGR Academy will continue to serve as a starting point for Filipinos who wish to follow their racing ambitions or those who simply want to improve their driving and handling skills on the tracks. Watch out for TMP’s announcements on the next sessions of the TGR Academy.

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How the Kia EV6 busts electric vehicle myths

12/05/2022

There’s no denying that the electric vehicle movement is, well, on the move here in the Philippines and one of the more recent arrivals is the new Kia EV6.

Not only is it the much-awaited all-electric crossover from the company, but the EV6 has also been proving itself garnering awards and recognition for its performance and technology.

While there is a large market willing to join the new electric vehicle revolution, it isn’t uncommon, though, to encounter hesitation from other drivers.

And unsurprisingly, a lot of these drivers share the same concerns.

The first and most common myth or misconception is the long and inconvenient charging times of EVs.

It should be noted that the charging time of an electric vehicle considers many factors. Much like smartphones, there are many types of chargers — both fast and slow.

Slow chargers will take about 10 hours to fully charge an electric vehicle which makes it a perfect option for overnight charging.

Faster chargers are also available including a 7kW AC charger or 11kW AC charger which can top up the Kia EV6 in just 50 and 90 minutes respectively.

Charging stations, on the other hand, are able to supply even faster charging times with a full battery achievable in just 18-70 minutes depending on the type of charger.

Another concern drivers have that inhibits them from adopting EVs is the supposed lack of charging stations.

Interestingly, private institutions like Ayala Land have already begun the roll-out of fast-charging stations to their properties. The company says they will be offering 22-kW and 60kW fast chargers that take as little as 2 hours to charge a vehicle.

Just recently, a new network of public EV charging stations was also launched and is aiming to install more than 100 EV chargers nationwide by the end of 2023.

Now over the last few years, we’ve been used to our small devices and the constant charges that these need and most bring this thinking to electric vehicles as well.

Unlike your everyday device, an EV will normally have more than enough juice to get you where you need to go. The Kia EV6 offers up to 500km on a single charge which, when applied to city driving, is definitely more than enough for a whole day’s use. Maybe even enough for a quick out-of-town drive and back.

And again, with more EV charging stations popping up left and right, you won’t even think of topping up until you get to your destination.

And last, but definitely not east, a major concern for most is the high cost of maintenance of an electric vehicle.

According to Kia, however, EVs are more affordable to maintain. With the EV6, you won’t need to bother yourself with engine oils, transmission fluids, and other such needs of a traditional petrol vehicle.

Kia also says that the EV6 will only need to replace brake pads, brake fluids, and wiper blades in the next five years.

But most obviously, you’ll save the most in fuel costs. For perspective, Kia says the EV6 is able to run its 500kms for just PhP 800 when charged at home.

Additionally, apart from busting all the usual EV myths, the Kia EV6 also addresses safety concerns. The recipient of the European Car of the Year 2022 Award and a 5-Star Euro NCAP rating, the Kia EV6 offers all the modern safety conveniences of today including Auto Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic collision-avoidance, Lane Keeping Assist, and more.

To ensure the longevity of its battery, Kia also has a Battery Management System that encloses its lithium-ion battery cells in water-resistant casings.

In the event of water intrusion, a water-sensing system will automatically shut down the EV system if exposure is beyond safety standards.

The Kia EV6 is slated to land on Philippine shores by the first quarter of 2023 with a reported retail price of under PhP 4 million.

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