2018 Toyota Vios Cup heats up with intense street racing action in Round 2

With these being said, the Vios Cup Round 2 weekend was all the more filled with high-intensity racing action on its Rota Promotional/Celebrity, Bridgestone Sporting, and Toyota Super Sporting classes. In addition, this round also highlighted the recently launched all-new Toyota Vios which TMP assigned as a safety car.

Race 1

The day’s agenda began with Race 1. Taking first dibs on the track were the drivers of the combined Rota Promotional and Celebrity classes. There were few instances wherein the safety car had to be deployed due to minor incidents – an understatement to what would become a chaotic day ahead.

At the end of the run, Jinno Rufino (Growl-Thule Racing Team), Vincent Courcol (AP Corse/Toyota Makati), and Brian Currie (Toyota Cebu) rounded off the top 3 finishers in Rota Promotional Class. On the other hand, Diego Loyzaga, Fabio Ide, and Troy Montero clinched 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd places, respectively in Celebrity Class.

Up in Bridgestone Sporting Class, Victor Buensuceso (Toyota Makati) crossed the line in 1^st, followed by Red Diwa (Toyota Isabela) in 2^nd, and Kiko Dysico (Toyota Cabanatuan) in 3^rd. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Toyota Super Sporting Class saw its first top 3 winners for the day with Estefano Rivera (Obengers), Dominic Ochoa (Toyota Quezon Avenue), and Raymond Ronquillo (Obengers) finishing in that order.

Race 2

The heat of the action continued in the afternoon with the day’s Race 2 events. Leading the pack in Rota Promotional Class was Brian Currie who displayed a notable show of force to dominate and win 1^st place. Behind him in 2^nd was lady driver Elysse Menorca (Obenger), while Race 1 winner Jinno Rufino settled for 3^rd.

For the Celebrity Class, the top 3 winners were Troy Montero (1^st), Fabio Ide (2^nd), and Chie Filomeno (3^rd). Things would have ended differently, though, if not for a crash that stopped Diego Loyzaga’s momentum. By this time, the all-new Toyota Vios safety car was having a field day as it was sent out to reel in the pack multiple times throughout.

In Bridgestone Sporting Class, the all-new Vios safety car became a common sight as it made more rounds to control the field due to several cars hitting each other or the barriers. The most intense of which was what happened to Oliver Matias (JBT Racing/Toyota San Fernando), whose car careened out of control, hit the barrier, and flipped over. He was okay. In the end, the winners were Lord Seno (Toyota Cebu), Kino Dysico, and Red Diwa.

Finally in Toyota Super Sporting Class, Bryan Co (Biskeg), Aira Medrano (PrtsPro Racing), and Raymond Ronquillo took the checkered flag in that order. But it wasn’t a walk in the park for them as halfway during the race, a big pile up ensued, thus halting most of the pack. Luckily, everyone was safe.

Catch the 3^rd and last round of the 2018 Toyota Vios Cup on September 22 as it will head up north once more at the 4.2 km-long Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Photos by Randolph de Leon and Paolo Lesaca