Motorsports
Clean Laps
Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) is bringing the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup back to Clark International Speedway from July 9 to 11, with Race Weekend 2 doubling as a live test platform for low-carbon biofuels.
The second of four race weekends planned for 2026 follows the March opener at Riverpark in Cavite, where more than 6,000 spectators watched the series debut the Tamaraw Racing Class using the locally made Tamaraw one-make race car.
This time, TMP is putting sustainability closer to the racing action. The company will use the series as a “rolling laboratory” to test low-carbon biofuels in its two one-make race vehicles, the Vios OMR and Tamaraw OMR.
The Vios OMR will run on a 20 percent bio-ethanol blend, or E20, while the Tamaraw OMR will use a 5 percent coco-biodiesel blend, or B5. Racing conditions will allow TMP to assess performance, efficiency and reliability under high-demand use.
TMP said the program supports its fuel flexibility push. Three-quarters of Toyota and Lexus gasoline models are already E20 compatible, while all Toyota diesel models are B5 compatible.
“Motorsports has always been a testbed for progress, and this season, TGR Philippines will take a step forward by actively exploring alternative fuels in competitive racing conditions. Testing biofuels in motorsports allows us to evaluate performance, efficiency and reliability in high-demand environments, so this will be a pivotal moment for the wider adoption of low-carbon biofuels in the Philippines,” TMP First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations Elijah Marcial said.
TMP Vice President for Government and Industry Affairs Elvin Luciano said the use of biofuels in motorsports fits Toyota’s wider multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality.
“As a company committed to reducing carbon emissions, we recognize that every activity must contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable future. Alternative fuels help reduce dependency on non-renewables like petroleum, so using biofuel for our motorsports events aligns with our multi-pathway approach, which includes diversifying our energy sources to contribute to our broader goal of carbon neutrality,” Luciano said.
The TGR Philippine Cup has been bringing Toyota’s motorsports program to Filipino fans since 2014. Race Weekend 2 will be open to the public on July 11, with free admission.
The event is backed by GT Radial, Petron RevX, Petron Blaze Racing, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Academy and other partners.
George Russell secured pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix sprint race after edging world champion Lando Norris in qualifying at Zandvoort.
The Mercedes driver produced a fastest lap of one minute and 11.567 seconds as Formula One returned from its month-long summer break.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified third, followed by Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli managed only fifth after topping the weekend’s sole practice session.
“The lap felt really good, to be honest. It all came together nicely,” Russell said.
“I’m really happy to come back. It’s been a little while since I’ve done one of these interviews.”
Russell won the opening Grand Prix of the season but has since struggled to match the pace of Antonelli, who dominated the first half of the campaign.
The Italian teenager has won six of the first 11 races, including five in succession. He enters the second half of the season with a 50-point lead over Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli appeared less comfortable once sprint qualifying began. He struggled for grip and spun during the opening session before recovering enough to claim a place on the third row.
Home favorite Max Verstappen qualified sixth for Red Bull as thousands of orange-clad supporters filled the grandstands around the seaside circuit.
The session followed early morning rain, although the track had dried by the time the drivers began their qualifying runs.
The close margins suggest Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull could all contend during the weekend. Mercedes controlled much of the first half of the season, but the team has admitted that its development program is currently “out of sync” with improvements introduced by its rivals.
McLaren arrived with momentum after Norris claimed his first victory of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The team also has a strong recent record at Zandvoort, where Norris won in 2024 before Piastri followed with victory in 2025.
Ferrari also showed competitive pace, while Verstappen will seek to give his home supporters a final victory at the circuit. The Dutch Grand Prix will leave the Formula One calendar after this year following the organizers’ decision to end the event.
“Thanks to the fans. You guys always give us a great race, and it’s a very unique circuit,” Russell told the Zandvoort crowd.
Kimi Antonelli will head to the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort with a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One drivers’ championship.
The Mercedes driver sits at the top with 219 points, followed by Hamilton with 169 and George Russell with 160. Charles Leclerc is fourth with 138 points, while Lando Norris completes the top five with 128.
Max Verstappen returns to his home race in sixth place with 109 points. Oscar Piastri follows with 92, ahead of Isack Hadjar with 68, Liam Lawson with 43 and Pierre Gasly with 42.
Mercedes also leads the constructors’ championship with 379 points. Ferrari is second with 307, while McLaren holds third with 220.
Red Bull has 177 points, followed by Racing Bulls with 66 and Alpine with 61. Haas, Audi, Williams, Aston Martin and Cadillac complete the standings.
Carlos Sainz has signed a multi-year contract extension with Williams, ending speculation over his Formula One future despite a difficult season with the British team.
The announcement came a day after Williams confirmed that Alex Albon would stay for the 2027 campaign. The two drivers will continue to lead the team as it works to regain its competitive form.
Sainz joined Williams after previous stints with Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and Toro Rosso. The four-time Grand Prix winner has failed to score in the past six rounds, while the team has struggled throughout the opening half of the season.
Williams also missed the first pre-season test, which left the squad playing catch-up before the campaign began.
Despite those setbacks, Sainz said he believes the team has the people and resources needed to recover.
“I’m thrilled to announce my continued journey with the Williams family,” the 31-year-old said.
“I truly believe in the people that form this team, both at the factory and at the racetracks, and the investments and hard work that are happening in the background.”
Sainz added that he was as committed as he was on his first day with Williams and wanted to help return the team to the front of the grid.
Team principal James Vowles welcomed the decision ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
“Carlos is a leader of this team, and I’m thrilled that he can see what’s possible as we continue to rebuild it,” Vowles said.
He added that Sainz shares Williams’ ambitions and described the Spaniard and Albon as one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid.
