Three young Filipino sim racers are heading to Bangkok with the Philippine flag on their virtual racing helmets.
Enzo Ison, Russel Reyes, and Michael Velasquez will represent the Philippines at the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing Asia Esports GT Championships in Thailand on November 14 and 15 after emerging from a competitive national selection process.
The trio earned their places following the 2026 TGR Philippines Esports GT Championship National Finals, held on September 27 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The event brought together the top 10 drivers from both the Junior and Sporting classes after more than 400 sim racers took part in the qualifiers.
Ison dominated the Junior Class, finishing as champion with 130.5 points. Chester Jordan Ilog followed in second with 85 points, while Luth Ifamy completed the podium with 76.5 points.
In the Sporting Class, Reyes matched Ison’s 130.5-point total to claim the championship. Velasquez finished second with 93.5 points, ahead of Luis Antonio Moreno with 84 points.
The finalists competed in four Gran Turismo races using different Toyota race cars and circuits. The competition covered the GR Corolla at Interlagos, the GR Yaris at Sardegna Windmills, the GR Supra at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and the GR010 Hybrid at the Nürburgring.
Changing weather conditions in the final two races added another layer of difficulty, but Ison delivered one of the strongest performances of the event. He won all four races, including a comeback victory at the Nürburgring after dropping to eighth place early in the race.
Reyes, meanwhile, battled Moreno throughout the Sporting Class while Velasquez also made his mark, particularly at Sardegna Windmills, where he used the reverse-grid format to lead from the opening lap.
As class champions, Ison and Reyes each received P100,000 and automatic berths in the Asia Finals. Velasquez secured the third Team Philippines slot as the Sporting Class runner-up with the next-highest overall points and received P75,000.
For Ison, the Bangkok event will mark his third appearance in the Asia Finals. The 16-year-old has previously represented the Philippines in 2024 and 2025 and has also won the Philippine Junior Class title in 2022 and 2023.
Reyes is also an Asia Finals veteran, having represented the country in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Velasquez, meanwhile, will make his regional debut.
With three experienced yet differently seasoned drivers, Team Philippines now has just over a month to prepare for what should be another serious test of the country’s growing sim racing talent.
Autocar’s Take
Sim racing is becoming more than just a way for Filipino motorsports fans to enjoy racing from home. The results of the TGR Philippines Esports GT Championship show that there is a genuine pool of young talent capable of competing beyond the local scene. Enzo Ison’s continued success is particularly impressive, while Russel Reyes’ return to the Asia Finals adds valuable experience.
Michael Velasquez also brings something different as a first-time regional competitor. More importantly, Team Philippines has three drivers who have earned their opportunity rather than simply been selected. Bangkok will be a tougher challenge, but this trio has every reason to race with confidence.
