Anton overall champion as Toyota concludes TGR Vios Cup; Sarmiento, Lao share spotlight

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) officially wrapped up the 2022 season of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Vios Cup in an awarding ceremony held recently in Taguig City.

After three successful legs of TGR Vios Cup Circuit Championship, Iñigo Anton of Toyota North Edsa-Obengers Racing Team was declared the overall champion in the Super Sporting Class.

Royce Sarmiento of RMS Cars Racing Team and Jay Lao of Happy Hotels/OTR Racing Team took home the championship in the Sporting and Promotional Classes, respectively. In the Autocross Challenge, Jules Aquino took the trophy in the Advanced Influencer Class while newcomer Miggy Romulo was declared the champion in the Beginner Influencer Class.

In the Media category, Jamil Lacuna was declared the overall champion in the Advanced Media Class while Pablo Salapantan won the Beginner Media Class. Lastly, Russel Reyes took the overall championship trophy for the GT Cup Class. TMP held the night to commend and show appreciation to the racers who not only contributed to the success of the 2022 TGR Vios Cup, but also served as ambassadors for TMP and TGR’s goal of promoting motorsports in the country. “TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Cup is one of our most celebrated milestones.

This would not be possible without you, our racers, and the whole team behind every driver. You gave life to this motorsports program,” TMP First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations Danny Cruz said.

Topping off the night’s celebration, the overall Team Award was handed to the Obengers Racing Team.

The team’s collective effort and skills on and off tracks made them the best among all the racing teams.

“We contribute to Philippine motorsports by developing more racers,” Obengers Racing Team Co-Principal Richie Uy said as he received the award on stage with the rest of the Obengers members.

Below is the compressed list of the 2022 season’s overall standings:

Honda PH, HARC-PRO kick off training camp for young factory riders

TOGETHER with the help of motorsports partner SDG Motorsports—HARC-PRO, Honda Philippines, Inc. has officially begun its “Road to Champion” campaign. The mission: To hone HPI’s two (2) young Filipino champions for the international stage.

Alfonsi Daquigan and Jakob Sablaya received hands-on training from Mr. Shigeki Honda, the founder of HARC-PRO himself. He was accompanied by three Japanese riders and coaches of the highest caliber: Mr. Yuki Kunii, a former rider for the Moto3 Honda Team Asia; Teppei Nagoe, a J-GP2 champion with MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO; and Haruki Noguchi, a competitor in the ASB1000 Race Category of the 2023 Asia Road Racing Championships. The riders discovered that future racing success depends on their ability to remain focused, disciplined, and persistent. The HPI riders believe it’s critical for racers to be psychologically, physically, and emotionally prepared for the task inside the track.

Honda recognizes top performances at 2023 Dealer Conference

HONDA Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) recognized dealers who excelled in sales and after-sales operations by holding its annual Dealer Conference last February 24, 2023 at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila. In addition, the said event served to promote various programs that enhance customer experiences throughout the network. This year’s Dealer Conference was attended by 663 dealer participants from HCPI’s 37 dealerships nationwide with the theme “Honda Charging Ahead: Drive to Transformation”.

Awarded Dealer of the Year was Honda

Cars Batangas (HCBT), who demonstrated steadfast excellence having also achieved 3rd place in 2020 and 2nd place in 2021. Honda Cars Marcos Highway (HCMR) came 2nd in this year’s conference, while Honda Cars Quezon City (HCQC) and Honda Cars Fairview (HCFR) both placed 3rd.

In addition, other sales and after-sales recognitions in different categories have been awarded: The event also included the awarding of winners of the 23rd National Skills Contest (NSC). The NSC showcases the dealer service associates’ valuable skills that are in line with global best practices designed to elevate service quality. The following dealer associates were declared as winners under the seven (7) categories:

Winners will be the official Philippine representatives in the Asia Oceania Skills Contest in May 2023 and will have the chance to participate in the World Skills Contest in October 2023.

HCPI president, Masahiko Nakamura expressed gratitude for everyone’s hard work, and confidence in the capabilities of the Honda dealership network.

“We at Honda Cars Philippines Inc. are grateful for your efforts to ensure superior customer satisfaction in sales and aftersales services. Last year’s achievements, including sales of almost 14,000 units, reflect your dedication. Let’s keep the momentum going, maximize Honda’s advanced product technologies, and build on the after-sales improvements we have been working on. Through these, we can help realize a higher level of safety and reach out to more customers” said Nakamura.

As the 2022 TGR Vios Cup concludes, TMP continues its commitment of igniting the growing passion for motorsports in the county through its various motorsports activities that exhibit how it pushes the limits for better. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Vios Cup 2022 was organized in cooperation with Bridgestone, and Petron, together with other sponsors Brembo, Denso, OMP, Tuason Racing, AVT, 3M, ROTA, myTOYOTA Wallet, and Kinto One.

Foton Iloilo wins ‘Dealer of Year’ at Foton Motor PH’s GRIT Awards

THE huge contingent of FOTON Motor Philippines Incorporated (FMPI) composed of the sales teams and dealership networks’ Dealer Principals, recently gathered to celebrate and honor efforts on pushing sales success for the company.

The annual GRIT Awards is a night of merriment and recognition of groups and individuals driving sales for FMPI’s five segments of products: the Gratour, Passenger Vehicles, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks. Apart from these, service and parts teams and individuals were also awarded based on the satisfaction index of customers.

FOTON Iloilo was hailed as the 2022 Overall Dealer of the Year.

FMPI also conferred the first-ever digital marketing breakthrough awards for two dealerships: FOTON La Union and FOTON Bacolod.

In 2022, FOTON Philippines registered an 18% growth in sales at par with the industry’s performance, successfully penetrating the private, government, and huge fleet accounts. “This has been made possible not only because we are selling units that bring optimal mobility services and results to our clients, but dare I say, due to the grit and resolve each of you has brought to the table,” FMPI General Manager Levy Santos said in his speech to the attendees.

He also bared that this year, FOTON Motor Philippines is targeting to sell 6, 000 units – with a threefold action plan: launching new products such as the first all-electric light-duty truck in the country; reinforcing marketing and sponsorship deals being a mobility partner of Gilas Pilipinas for this coming 2023 FIBA World Cup; and continuously expanding dealership networks.

THE first five kilometer section of NLEX Connector between Caloocan and España interchanges has achieved substantial completion and is scheduled for opening within the month.

This was announced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the grantor of the NLEX Connector project, during the final inspection of the road led by DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco and NLEX Corporation President and GM J. Luigi L. Bautista. The inspection was conducted as part of regulatory requirements to ensure the safety and convenience of the motoring public.

Now 98 percent complete, the NLEX Connector España Section is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the City of

Manila such as España Boulevard, Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue and Lacson Avenue as it will divert trucks and other vehicles from the capital’s major roads. The elevated expressway is being eyed to provide greater access to several areas in Manila including the University Belt. Designed to cater to all vehicle classes including trucks, the four-lane (2x2) NLEX Connector intends to stimulate economic growth by significantly improving the mobility of motorists thus boosting overall productivity.

In its entirety, the NLEX Connector stretches eight kilometers starting from Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road, Dimasalang, España Blvd., R. Magsaysay