The second round of the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) Cup, held at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga, is now in the books. At the end of Round 2, Red Diwa leads the Super Sporting Class, while Bern Zaragoza and Iñigo Anton lead the Sporting and Tamaraw Classes, respectively.
Aside from the racetrack action, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) also tested low-carbon biofuels during the second round of the 2026 Toyota GR Cup. TMP said that Round 2 served an important purpose: the event became a “rolling laboratory” for testing low-carbon biofuels. The car brand claims that it is the first car manufacturer to test the use of biofuels for motorsports in the Philippines.
The vehicle that competed during Round 2 in the Vios One-Make Races used an E20 bio-ethanol blend, while the Tamaraw One-Make Races used a B5 coco-biodiesel blend. Of note, TMP said that around three-quarters of Toyota and Lexus gasoline models are already E20-compatible, while all Toyota diesel models are B5-compatible.
Aside from being low-carbon alternatives, the use of these biofuels supports Philippine energy security and the development of the agricultural sector. This is because it helps reduce petroleum imports, as biofuel products can be sourced from feedstock grown by local coconut and sugarcane farmers.
TMP believes that by testing the biofuels in extreme motorsports conditions on the racetrack, it can then evaluate the biofuels’ performance, efficiency, and reliability. The Japanese car brand will share the results it gathers with government agencies and key biofuel stakeholders.
Toyota PH added that the increased use of locally sourced biofuels will benefit the Philippines, as it can help gradually reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. More importantly, the use of biofuels will benefit local farmers, as they produce feedstocks that are used in the production of these biofuels.
“Using biofuels matters because first, it helps make our fuel supply more stable. If we can produce more of what we need locally, we are less affected by problems happening far away. Second, it supports our farmers. By using more coconut-based fuel, we create more demand for what they produce,” said TMP President Masando Hashimoto.
The 2026 Toyota GR Cup has two more rounds remaining, which are scheduled as such:
– Round 3: Batangas Racing Circuit (August 13 to 15)
– Round 4: Clark International Speedway (September 10 to 12)
Autocar’s Take
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has made use of the GR Cup’s second round to test and evaluate how biofuels perform when used in extreme motorsports conditions on the racetrack. TMP has yet to share its findings on how the biofuels performed, and it has committed to share its learnings with government agencies and key biofuel stakeholders.
This initiative from TMP is nice, as it can highlight the benefits of using biofuels. Aside from being the low-carbon option, it also helps local farmers, as they produce feedstocks that are used in the production of these biofuels. The use of biofuels can also allow our country to be less dependent on imported fossil fuels.
