By Aries B. Espinosa
Clark International Speedway, Pampanga—As the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup closes out its grueling 2026 season, the TessDrive team asked the burning question on the grid: What lies ahead for biofuel integration in succeeding race seasons?
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) technical services department manager Charlie Osia confirmed that his team is in the final stages of data evaluation.
“Based on the results, we will be making an announcement regarding our next direction,” Osia explained. “For now, we are completing the endurance and performance testing, and the telemetry and mechanical results will guide our final decision.”
Pushing the multi-pathway frontier
The initiative isn’t just about track trophies; it serves as a high-velocity testbed for national energy security. Following high-level discussions with Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin, TMP president Masando Hashimoto—who personally competed behind the wheel of the One-Make Race (OMR) Tamaraw running on a bio-blend—stressed the critical role of motorsport in shifting public perception.
“What we are discussing with Secretary Garin is that public communication is vital, because many consumers still do not know what goes into these blends—what bio is, what ethanol is, or what coconut-derived methyl ester actually does,” Hashimoto said.
“We have to expand baseline public awareness and back it up with empirical test data so motorists realize, ‘Our cars will run reliably even if we use higher biofuel blends.’ Educating the market is necessary to scale this technology. It is already happening across other Asean markets, and we are working closely to support the DOE on this front,” Hashimoto continued.
“From this perspective, motorsports and the TGR Philippine Cup play an indispensable role. It translates complex science into something tangible: People can see it, smell it, and touch it. It makes the reality of alternative fuels immediately accessible to everyone.”
A season of adversity
Hashimoto extended his gratitude to the race teams, drivers, sponsors, media partners, ambassadors, and track marshals who kept the 10th anniversary season alive through extraordinary circumstances.
“This season is especially meaningful to me. In my third year as a competitive driver, I had the privilege of racing the OMR Tamaraw. Every single lap reminded me that motorsports does not merely develop better machines—it develops better people,” Hashimoto reflected.
“Despite the severe hurdles we weathered this year—from extreme weather disturbances and flooding to the disruptions stemming from the global Middle East fuel crisis—we continued to race with purpose. Throughout this season, we learned, tested, adapted, and pushed ourselves forward.”
Hashimoto recounted the unpredictable trajectory of the 2026 calendar:
“It was not the easiest year in the decade-long history of the TGR Philippine Cup. We opened with an electrifying street race in General Trias, Cavite—truly one of the most remarkable street circuits I have ever witnessed. But starting mid-March, we entered a challenging four-month operational freeze following the national energy emergency declared by President Marcos. While conditions gradually stabilized, conventional fuel supply constraints remained exceptionally tight nationwide.”
“When we finally returned to Clark in July, we turned adversity into an opportunity by deploying our low-carbon alternative fuel program. We restarted our motorsport calendar using biofuels, then proceeded to Batangas Racing Circuit for another historic first,” he added.
“Everything was unexpected. To me, it was trial by fire. Beyond managing the season, I had to master an entirely new machine: The Tamaraw racer. It was a handful on track—demanding, rugged, yet immensely fun to drive. Everything converged this year, leaving us with a profound sense of accomplishment.”
The real-world rolling laboratory
The initiative builds directly upon the groundwork laid during Race Weekend 2 in July, when TMP transformed the TGR Philippine Cup into the country’s first major domestic motorsport event powered fleet-wide by low-carbon biofuels.
During that breakthrough weekend, TMP deployed 2,000 liters of 20% bioethanol blend (E20) for the Vios OMR fleet and gasoline-spec Tamaraws, alongside 2,000 liters of 5% coco-biodiesel blend (B5) for the diesel-spec Tamaraw utility racers.
Crucially, the fleet tackled full-throttle competition with zero mechanical modifications. Modern factory electronic control units (ECUs) dynamically recalibrated combustion parameters on the fly via onboard air-fuel ratio sensors, compensating for the oxygen-rich properties of agricultural blends. Track data from hot laps confirmed that E20 functioned as an effective octane enhancer under racing stress, while B5 coco-biodiesel delivered uncompromised reliability and lubrication across grueling heats.
For Hashimoto, validating showroom-ready fuel flexibility on the circuit directly advances TMP’s broader multi-pathway approach to decarbonization—delivering immediate tailpipe emissions reductions without waiting decades for absolute grid and fleet electrification. It reflects his guiding philosophy: A “win-win-win” strategy that simultaneously benefits the automotive sector, local agricultural producers, and national energy resilience.
Grid expanded with GR86 OMR and Rookie Racing Garage
Looking ahead, TMP is broadening its motorsport footprint significantly for 2027.
During an Oct. 24 trackside press briefing alongside TMP senior vice president Sherwin Chualim and Osia, Hashimoto confirmed that the 2027 season will officially introduce the GR86 One-Make Race Class. Developed in close partnership with Autoplus Sports and Tuason Racing School, the grid will accommodate up to 30 units of the bespoke sports coupe—expanding the TGR Philippine Cup into a three-tier ladder featuring the Vios, the Tamaraw, and the GR86.
TMP also announced the impending launch of Rookie Racing Garage Manila, an experiential community hub tailored for grassroots driving culture and performance enthusiasts.
“Rookie Racing Garage Manila is envisioned as a home for people who genuinely love cars,” Hashimoto concluded. “It will be a space where enthusiasts can personalize their vehicles, discover high-performance engineering, learn competitive driving techniques, and connect with peers who share the craft. It is built around one enduring conviction: We love cars.”
To know more about biofuels in the Philippines, click this link: https://webfs.oecd.org/TADWEB/agriculture/data/AMIS/Indicators/Sources/www.doe.gov.ph_doe_files_pdf_Issuances_DC_DC_2007-05-0006.pdf
Top photo shows, from left, TMP SVP Sherwin Chualim, president Masando Hashimoto, and technical department manager Charlie Osia