Three of the country’s top virtual racing drivers—Enzo Ison, Russel Reyes, and Michael Velasquez—are set to carry the Philippine flag at the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing Asia Esports GT Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, from Nov. 14 to 15.
The trio earned their spots on the national squad following intense head-to-head competition at the national finals of the 2026 TGR Philippines Esports GT Championship, held at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City.
Out of more than 400 grassroots competitors who entered nationwide qualifying rounds, only the top 10 sporting class and top 10 junior class sim racers advanced to the live stage at SMX. Driving on professional racing simulator cockpits inside Gran Turismo, the 20 finalists tackled four diverse vehicle and circuit combinations:
- Race 1 (Brazil): Toyota GR Corolla around the rolling asphalt of Autódromo de Interlagos;
- Race 2 (dirt/rally): Lightweight Toyota GR Yaris powering through the mixed-surface loose gravel of Sardegna Windmills;
- Race 3 (Spain): Toyota GR Supra on the technical sweepers of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya under changing weather conditions;
- Race 4 (Germany): 670-hp Toyota GR010 Hybrid Le Mans Hypercar pushed to maximum aerodynamic velocity along the Nürburgring through rain.
How the races were won
Sixteen-year-old Enzo Ison put on a masterclass across all four disciplines, amassing a maximum 130.5 points. After taking pole and leading wire-to-wire at Interlagos in Race 1, Ison navigated a reverse-grid start from P5 at Sardegna Windmills, clawing up to second by Lap 4 before prevailing in a three-wide duel against Samuel Rey Icalia and Chester Jordan Ilog.
In Barcelona, Ison avoided mid-pack spins in tricky track conditions to win by 17 seconds. His final test came at the Nürburgring: after an early off-track moment dropped him to P8 and handed Ilog a 10-second gap, Ison mounted a measured recovery, reclaiming the lead on Lap 4 to win by a staggering 54 seconds.
The sporting class saw a tense tactical fight between Russel Reyes and former champion Luis Antonio Moreno. Reyes repelled Moreno’s late dive-bomb on the final corner at Interlagos and executed another defensive masterclass in Barcelona.
In Race 2 at Sardegna Windmills, Michael Velasquez converted his reverse-grid front row start into a commanding victory, resisting hard charges from Reyes. In the Nürburgring finale, Victor Ancheta’s aggressive pit strategy temporarily gave him a 10-second lead before a track-limits penalty dropped him to P6, allowing Reyes to cross the finish line 17 seconds clear of the chasing pack.
Toyota Motor Philippines marketing division senior vice president Sherwin Chua-Lim noted: “It was inspiring to see our finalists push themselves lap after lap at the national finals. The enthusiasm around sim racing in the country keeps growing, and it shows how many Filipinos share the thrill and joy of motorsports. To Enzo, Russel, and Michael, we wish you the best of luck as you carry the Philippine flag in Bangkok. We are behind you as you go out there and push the limits for better.”
The sim-to-real pipeline
Enzo Ison (16, junior champion): A 3-time Asia Finals veteran (2024–2026) and multi-time national titleholder, Ison also bridges the virtual and physical racing worlds as an active competitor in the real-world Tamaraw Class of the circuit-based TGR Philippine Cup.
Russel Reyes (25, sporting champion): National champion in 2023 and podium finisher in 2022 and 2024, Reyes returns to the Asian stage after taking a one-year sabbatical.
Michael Velasquez (sporting runner-up): Demonstrating precision consistency and racecraft under reverse-grid pressure, Velasquez scored the highest cumulative runner-up tally (93.5 pts) to secure his maiden international appearance for Team Philippines.
Filipino motorsports enthusiasts can follow the live broadcast of the 2026 TGR Asia Esports GT Championships on Nov. 14–15 . Explore tournament rules, standings, and grassroots sim-racing programs at the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippines Esports Hub.
Top photo shows Team Philippines, from left: Enzo Ison, Russel Reyes and Michael Velasquez