VIOS CUP LIVE ENGINE ROAR RETURNS

The much-missed live action of the TGR Vios Cup will blast off on Saturday, July 2, at the famous Clark International Speedway in Angeles City, Pampanga, featuring the Circuit Championship and the Autocross Challenge.

To be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., the iconic TGR (Toyota Gazoo racing) races from Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) will feature the usual speedway stars for the delectation of fans deprived of the boom and thunder of the engine roar shelved for two years by the Covid-19 pandemic.

I can imagine the hunger for live action of a crowd used to savouring the sweet noise of speed-producing locomotives on the race track.

As in the past, admission is free, with spectators needing only to show their vaccination cards to gain entry to the event that is presented by Petron and Bridgestone, and is supported by Brembo, denso, OMP, Tuason racing, AVT, 3M, ROTA, My Toyota Wallet and Kinto One.

But to be fair to home buddies, they can also watch the action via TMP’S online channels and Tgr’s Facebook accounts, including the second leg in August and the concluding third leg in november.

Said Sunshine Cabrera: “TMP continues to fulfil its goal of elevating motorsports in the country and providing a platform for top Filipino racing talents, guided by the TGR philosophy of pushing the limits for better results.”

The Circuit Championship will unveil the Philippines’s top racing teams with their seasoned and up-and-coming drivers battling for supremacy in the Super Sporting, Sporting, and Promotional classes.

Movie celebrities, influencers and media personalities are also expected to dish out their racing prowess again in the Autocross Challenge, even as the country’s best e-racers get the chance to unfurl their sim racing skills, too.

“Over the years, the TGR Vios Cup has been serving as a vehicle for us to champion the local racers, and to bring the thrill of racing to everyone,” said TMP First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations Sherwin Chualim. “We thank our ever-growing community of racers and motorsports fans for their support which makes the TGR Vios Cup one of the biggest, and longest-running racing events in the Philippines. With the public back to the grandstand once again, it’s the perfect way to bring together the ambitious spirit of the racers and the rousing energy of the fans.”

Seems like only yesterday when the Vios Cup was flagged off in 2014 by former TMP president Michinobu Sugata. Time flies, indeed.

Honda, Sony tie-up

honda and Sony have just joined hands in the sale of electric vehicles (evs) and in providing

other services for mobility, Colene Jalalon reported.

honda’s vehicle body manufacturing technology and after-sales service management experience will combine with Sony’s expertise in the development and application of imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network and entertainment thrusts.

“Sony and honda plan to establish the new company within 2022 and to begin the sale of evs and provision of services for mobility in 2025,” Jalalon said.

Called the Sony honda Mobility Inc., it will be based in Tokyo, Japan, with a capital outlay of 10 billion yen (roughly P4.7 billion) on a 50-50 business investment each for both companies.

Said Kenichiro Yoshida, Sony President and CEO:

“Based on our vision to ‘make the mobility space an emotional one,’ Sony’s initiatives are centered around safety, entertainment and adaptability. As we continue our learnings in these areas, we are excited to have met a partner, honda.”

Said Toshihiro Mibe, honda President and CEO:

“honda continues to take on new challenges in the environmental, safety, and other advanced fields in order to be a driving force for social change through mobility. We are very pleased to have signed a joint venture agreement with Sony. At the new company, we will strive to create new value through the fusion brought about by the combination of our different industries.”

PEE STOP My family and I condole deeply to Ken Angeles, who just lost his son to cancer. Sam, a famous chef in davao City, was only 38. Please, dear God, grant peace to Sam’s soul…the Petron Philippine Overland expedition will be held October 12 to 16 this year. More on this in future columns.