Motorsports
Toyota Gazoo Racing PH Opens eSports GT Championship Qualifiers
Toyota Motor Philippines has opened the 2025 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines eSports GT Championship qualifiers, inviting new and seasoned sim racers to take their first step into motorsports. The qualifying window runs until September 14, with options to set a time online or at select Toyota GR Performance dealerships.
Players compete in sprint races on Gran Turismo 7 for PlayStation 4 or 5. Online qualifiers require an active PSN account, a PS Plus subscription, and a copy of the game. Walk-in qualifiers at participating dealerships only need a valid government ID for verification. The Top 40 from qualifiers advance to the quarterfinals.
Registration is through the event form, after which racers can pick an online or on-site qualifier slot. The quarterfinals happen on October 11 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Pasay City, followed by the semifinals and national finals on October 12 at the same venue. The Top 3 in the country will represent the Philippines at the Asia Finals in Thailand later this year.
The championship is open to Filipino citizens or permanent residents based in the Philippines during the tournament. Minors 17 and below need guardian consent. Winners receive cash prizes, original GR merchandise, and an invitation to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Academy.
Toyota notes that its e-motorsports ladder has already delivered real-world results. Past champions Russel Reyes and Luis Moreno progressed to the TGR Philippine Cup and won the Novice Class titles in 2024 and 2025. Assistant Vice President for Marketing Services Andy Ty said the live finals will bring the virtual action to life and encouraged fans to join or watch the on-site showdown.
The series is sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines. Petron serves as Official Fuel & Lubricants Partner and GT Radial as Official Tire Partner, with support from Seiko, Toyota Financial Services Philippines, Tuason Racing, AVT, 3M, Denso, OMP, ROTA, Autoplus, PIAA, Vinyl Frog Premier Vehicle Wraps, AutoQuix, Sparco, myTOYOTA Wallet, and Kinto One.
Honda Philippines’ 16-year-old talent Alfonsi Daquigan swept Round 5 of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup at Mandalika, taking Race 1 and Race 2 to become the first Filipino rider to win an ATC race and then back it up on the same weekend. The October 4 to 5 event at Indonesia’s Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit capped a statement performance from the young Filipino.
Daquigan overcame a double long-lap penalty in Race 1 and still crossed the line first. The Sunday rematch was cleaner and just as decisive as he sealed the double, moving up to third in the overall standings after Round 5.
Honda Philippines said the result reflected Daquigan’s discipline, consistency, and drive as he battled the best youth riders across Asia while carrying the flag on the international stage.
George Russell delivered a stunning performance under the Marina Bay lights, taking victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, the 18th round of the 2025 Formula One World Championship. The win came ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, while McLaren officially clinched the Constructors’ Championship with six races to spare.
Race Results (62 laps, 306.143 km – Marina Bay Circuit)
- George Russell (GBR, Mercedes) — 1:40:22.367
- Max Verstappen (NED, Red Bull) — +5.430
- Lando Norris (GBR, McLaren) — +6.066
- Oscar Piastri (AUS, McLaren) — +8.146
- Kimi Antonelli (ITA, Mercedes) — +33.681
- Charles Leclerc (MON, Ferrari) — +45.996
- Fernando Alonso (ESP, Aston Martin) — +1:20.667
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR, Ferrari) — +1:25.251
- Oliver Bearman (GBR, Haas) — +1:33.527
- Carlos Sainz (ESP, Williams) — +1 lap
- Isack Hadjar (FRA, Racing Bulls) — +1 lap
- Yuki Tsunoda (JPN, Red Bull) — +1 lap
- Lance Stroll (CAN, Aston Martin) — +1 lap
- Alex Albon (THA, Williams) — +1 lap
- Liam Lawson (NZL, Racing Bulls) — +1 lap
- Franco Colapinto (ARG, Alpine) — +1 lap
- Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA, Sauber) — +1 lap
- Esteban Ocon (FRA, Haas) — +1 lap
- Pierre Gasly (FRA, Alpine) — +1 lap
- Nico Hülkenberg (GER, Sauber) — +1 lap
World Championship Standings (After Singapore GP)
Drivers
- Oscar Piastri (AUS) — 336 pts
- Lando Norris (GBR) — 314
- Max Verstappen (NED) — 273
- George Russell (GBR) — 237
- Charles Leclerc (MON) — 173
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR) — 125
- Kimi Antonelli (ITA) — 88
- Alex Albon (THA) — 70
- Isack Hadjar (FRA) — 39
- Nico Hülkenberg (GER) — 37
- Fernando Alonso (ESP) — 36
- Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) — 32
- Lance Stroll (CAN) — 32
- Liam Lawson (NZL) — 30
- Esteban Ocon (FRA) — 28
- Pierre Gasly (FRA) — 20
- Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) — 20
- Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA) — 18
- Oliver Bearman (GBR) — 18
Constructors
- McLaren — 650 pts (Champions)
- Mercedes — 325
- Ferrari — 298
- Red Bull — 290
- Williams — 102
- Racing Bulls — 72
- Aston Martin — 68
- Sauber — 55
- Haas — 46
- Alpine — 20
George Russell wins in Singapore as McLaren locks in constructors’ crown six races early
George Russell stormed to victory at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday night, delivering Mercedes its first win of the season as McLaren sealed the Formula One constructors’ championship with six rounds to spare.
Russell started from pole and held firm against Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, pulling away in the later laps to win by 10 seconds. It was a sweet redemption for the British driver, who famously crashed out of the race two years ago while chasing victory.
“It feels amazing, especially after what happened a couple of years ago,” said Russell. “We don’t really know where this performance came from, but I’m really happy. A one-hour, 45-minute race here in Singapore is never easy with the heat and humidity, but we brought it home.”
McLaren’s double podium finish, with Norris in third and Oscar Piastri in fourth, was enough to secure back-to-back constructors’ titles for the Woking-based team—its 10th overall. The combined 27 points from Norris and Piastri matched Red Bull’s 2023 record for the earliest team championship win.
“They’ve driven brilliantly all season,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown. “You can’t win the constructors’ without two awesome drivers. We let them race hard, clean, and to win.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for McLaren. At the start, Norris aggressively dived past teammate Piastri at turn one, brushing wheels in a fiery opening exchange. Piastri, who leads the drivers’ standings, fumed over team radio: “So are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way? That’s not fair.”
The team refused to issue team orders, leaving Piastri visibly frustrated, though Norris insisted afterward, “It was good racing.”
Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, wrestling with gearbox downshift issues that made the race “more difficult than I hoped.” Despite the struggles, the Dutchman remains third in the title fight, 63 points behind Piastri.
Further down the order, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli finished fifth, ahead of the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton dropped to eighth after a late-race brake issue and a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, allowing Fernando Alonso to slip into seventh. Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten.
The tropical night race also marked Formula One’s first official “Heat Hazard” designation, requiring teams to provide liquid-cooled vests due to Singapore’s punishing climate. Air temperatures held at 28°C—lower than expected—so some drivers, including Verstappen, opted not to wear them.
