It’s time to plug in that console, go online, and get ready to race as Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) brings the GR Supra GT Cup Asia. This online racing event gives Filipino virtual racers a chance to represent the Philippines and compete with other top gamers in Asia.
The GR Supra GT Cup Asia, a virtual racing tournament, is organized by Toyota Gazoo Racing. It aims to find the best virtual racers, and pit them against each other to see which one is the fastest.
The said racing tournament is brought here by TMP since it has canceled its plans for the 2020 Vios Racing Festival (VRF) due to health and safety risks from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Calling all Filipino virtual racers
Participants will be virtually racing onboard Toyota’s flagship sports car, the GR Supra. In case you’re wondering, the 2021 GR Supra is powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that delivers 382 hp and 498 Nm of torque.
Filipino virtual racers aged 18 and above, will get the chance to race against other participants with a chance to represent the country against competitors from Asia Pacific countries in the GR Supra GT Cup Asia Regional Round. Racers will be competing against each other through PlayStation’s Gran Turismo Sport game. The Philippine leg will have two racing class or categories for the public, which are the following:
- Promotional Class - for novice drivers with no professional e-sports background
- Sporting Class - for intermediate and professional e-racers
TMP says the qualifying rounds will start this July and will conclude with the grand finals in August, which is in time for the regional competition towards the latter part of the year. To join, interested players may check out the complete mechanics and register online via toyota.com.ph/gtcup.
Do you have what it takes to be the fastest?
However, TMP hasn’t specified an exact date as to when the qualifying rounds will be. Based on the event’s website, the registration period for both classes (Promotional and Sporting) will start on July 6, 2020. The “League,” on the other hand, is scheduled on July 18, 2020.
The general requirements for you to join the event are the following:
- You must have a PlayStation 4
- Active PSN Account
- PS PLUS Subscription
- Must have Gran Turismo Sport (GT Sport) game
- Any compatible gaming controller
- High-speed internet
- Active Facebook account
- Valid Passport
Another class for Media & Celebrity partners will be created based on a different selection process by TMP. A separate registration will be conducted and details will be announced soon.
TMP will also open the Junior Class, where racers below 18 years old can join. Winners, however, cannot qualify for the regional round in compliance with the international tournament rules.
>>> Related: From Vios to Supra: Toyota PH shifts to e-racing amid COVID-19 crisis
Toyota GR Supra GT Cup aims to find the best virtual racers
In addition, TMP announced its support to several frontliners who have been working tirelessly to keep road safety in check. TMP Executive Vice President Kei Mizuguchi is encouraging virtual racers and livestream viewers to donate any amount, which will be used to provide food packs for military, police, and medical frontliners.
“We are encouraging our racers and livestream viewers to donate any amount to be used for to provide food packs for military, police, and medical frontliners deployed to man our highways and checkpoints. TMP will match the donation from racers and viewers to reach out to more front liners! It’s our simple way of helping and thanking them for keeping us safe on the road during these challenging times.”
The Toyota GR Supra GT Cup is not the first e-sports racing competition that was held in the Philippines. Last 2015, Nissan Philippines brought the Nissan GT Academy here in the country.
It is part of Nissan’s virtual motorsport program that started in 2008, and it has the same goal of finding the best virtual racers through Gran Turismo. What makes the GT Academy unique is that it lets Gran Turismo gamers have a chance of becoming a real-life professional race car driver.
Visit Philkotse.com to read more latest stories about the automotive industry.