Motorsports
Triple Threat Takes the Crown
A new trio of virtual racers will fly the Philippine flag at the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Asia Finals this November. After a weekend of wheel-to-wheel duels at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, rookie driver Victor Ancheta emerged as the overall champion of the TGR Philippines eSports GT Championship 2025, ahead of Enzo Ison and Matthew Ang. The three now make up Team Philippines for the Asia Finals in Thailand on November 23.
The October 12 national finals capped a season that drew more than 20,000 spectators across the weekend. Fans gathered to watch the country’s top sim racers battle through multiple elimination rounds, with pride and a spot on the national team on the line.
Ancheta’s rise was the story everyone talked about. Competing in his first TGR eSports season, he fought his way through a 250-driver field and advanced from quarterfinals to finals with steady pace. “I feel happy that I won the championship, and I feel honored to represent the Philippines,” he said. “I’m looking forward to racing Asia’s fastest drivers.”
Ison, last year’s runner-up, once again showed consistency. He topped the qualifying sessions and kept pressure on the leaders in every race to secure second overall. “It feels great to be back on the podium and to have another chance to represent the country,” he shared.
Ang rounded out the top three after another strong campaign. Despite missing the title, he took the result in stride. “I felt disappointed since I genuinely thought I could win this year,” he said, “but I’m grateful for another opportunity at the Asia Finals.”
The road to the finals tested every racer’s skill. The top 40 qualifiers faced three quarterfinal heats using the GR Yaris High Performance ’20 at Dragon Trail Gardens, followed by a tougher semifinal round at Mount Panorama, Red Bull Ring, and Daytona. A Wild Card Round even brought back past champions Luis Moreno and Russel Reyes, giving hopefuls one last shot at a final slot.
The National Finals then raised the bar with three races using different cars and tracks. Drivers opened with the Toyota Supra Racing Concept ’18 at Kyoto, went off-road in the GR Yaris at Colorado Springs, and finished in the GR010 Hybrid at Spa under changing weather. Ancheta sealed the crown with 72 points, followed by Ison with 67.5 and Ang with 61.5.
Special awards closed the night: Ancheta won Crowd Favorite, Ison received Smooth Operator, Ang earned Pole Position, and Miole took Best Overtake. The championship was sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and supported by partners and sponsors.
For Ancheta, Ison, and Ang, the journey now shifts to the Asia Finals in Thailand, where they’ll face the region’s top drivers in pursuit of international glory.
Nissan Formula E Team’s rookie and simulator driver Abbi Pulling impressed at the all-women’s Formula E test in Valencia, clocking the second-fastest time in both morning and afternoon sessions at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
The British driver, who recently clinched the F1 Academy title, completed 89 laps during her third official outing with Nissan. She recorded a best lap of 1:22.831 aboard the Nissan e-4ORCE 05, taking on a mix of race runs, qualifying laps, and pit stop training. The program marked the conclusion of Formula E’s pre-season testing ahead of the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship opener in São Paulo on December 6.
“It was a very productive day, and we’re pleased with Abbi’s performance,” said Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal of Nissan Formula E. “She’s progressing fast, giving strong feedback, and showing confidence with each outing.”
Pulling shared the same enthusiasm: “Setting the second-quickest time in both sessions feels great. I hit my goal of breaking into the 1:22s and improved a lot on energy management during race simulations. These cars are demanding but a lot of fun to drive.”
The test capped a strong pre-season for Nissan, whose main drivers Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato also completed four days of running earlier in the week. With Rowland defending his drivers’ title, the team looks to carry its momentum into the upcoming season.
Lando Norris extended his Formula One championship lead to 24 points after an impressive victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, capping off a weekend filled with tension, crashes, and shifting fortunes across the grid.
The 25-year-old McLaren driver, who once admitted to overthinking and caring too much about public perception, now appears transformed. Gone is the self-doubting “nice guy” of last year’s heartbreak in Brazil. In his place stands a more focused, battle-hardened racer who simply said, “Ignore everyone that talks crap about you and just focus on yourself.”
That mindset has paid off. Norris now has seven wins and ten podiums this season, including eight second-place finishes—more than any other driver. His teammate Oscar Piastri, who once led the standings by 30 points, hasn’t finished on the podium since Monza and has lost momentum.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s chances of defending his title are fading. The four-time champion started from the pit lane but still managed to finish third behind Norris and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Despite admitting that a 49-point deficit is “too many points to really have a proper chance,” Verstappen vowed not to give up, with his eyes set on Las Vegas.
Ferrari, however, endured another nightmare weekend. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc retired, marking Ferrari’s second consecutive double DNF. Hamilton, who hasn’t stood on the podium in 21 races, was penalized after a collision and could only lament a tough season.
McLaren now lead the constructors’ standings, followed by Mercedes and Red Bull. Ferrari, down to fourth, are counting the days until 2026’s rule reset.
Tanauan City, Batangas — The 2025 Regional Underbone Grand Prix (RUGP) wrapped up with a strong finish for the Honda Project M Estremo Racing Team, led by standout rider #44 Ephraim Onahon, who clinched the Overall Championship in both the Limited and Open Underbone categories.
Racing across four rounds in Visayas and Mindanao, the team showed grit and consistency aboard the Honda Winner X — a 150cc liquid-cooled DOHC motorcycle built for both agility and control. The machine’s strong acceleration, aerodynamic design, and assist/slipper clutch gave riders the confidence to take on challenging track conditions while staying fast and stable through every corner.
Despite tough competition, the team’s discipline and teamwork carried them through, reflecting Honda’s “Road to Champion” spirit. The success of Onahon and his crew highlighted how skill, preparation, and the right machine can make all the difference on the circuit.
Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI) supported the team throughout the season, reaffirming its commitment to developing local racing talent and making motorsports more accessible to Filipino riders. “Racing builds discipline and passion,” HPI said. “Through the Project M Estremo Racing Team, we continue to inspire Filipinos to pursue the thrill of the sport.”
As the 2025 RUGP season closes, the Honda Project M Estremo Racing Team celebrates not just a championship, but a journey of perseverance, teamwork, and the unrelenting pursuit of speed.
