The Toyota Autocross Challenge is a thrilling experience that brings together racers, enthusiasts, and casual fans for a weekend of heart-thumping fun

By Nicole Ganglani

This year’s Toyota Autocross Challenge will be one for the books as Toyota promises two exhilarating events on Apr. 27 and 28 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds.

But what exactly is autocross?

It’s a form of motorsport that tests your driving skills. Dubbed as one of the safest forms of motorsports, the objective of autocross is for drivers to navigate a defined course without hitting any cones or missing any gates within an allotted time. The competition focuses on the driver’s car handling abilities and how they complement and amplify Vios’ engine power and speed.

From across the world, the sport is seen as a real thrill because of what it challenges drivers to do: Accelerate as quickly as possible between turns while pushing through the corners at tractions and braking through the autocross course

Autocross is normally held at parking lots where pylons are arranged to form a tight, twisting course. The autocross course is constructed in a tight space made up of cones and sharp radius corners, challenging drivers to negotiate the course one at a time as quickly as possible.

The sport has gained an impressive following in countries like the United States, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova. From across the world, the sport is seen as a real thrill because of what it challenges drivers to do: Accelerate as quickly as possible between turns while pushing through the corners at tractions and braking through the autocross course.

Autocross in the Philippines

Over the past decade, the sport has seen its rise in the Philippines. The number one automotive brand in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines, has been hosting an autocross tournament for over five years now. The sport has even discovered prominent Pinoy autocross racers like Carlos Anton and Milo Rivera who continue to represent the Philippines around the world. This year, the brand’s refreshed motorsports program will be called the Vios Racing Festival. Toyota’s very own Vios is the ideal model in promoting motorsports at the grassroots level due to its ability to handle the high-revving obstacles of the race track.

The Philippines’ Vios Racing Festival is divided into two major categories namely the Vios Circuit Championship and the Vios Autocross Challenge. The three-leg Vios Circuit Championship will give racers the chance to track the speedways of Clark and Pampanga with the all-new Vios.

This year, the brand’s refreshed motorsports program will be called the Vios Racing Festival. Toyota’s very own Vios is the ideal model in promoting motorsports at the grassroots level due to its ability to handle the high-revving obstacles of the race track

Meanwhile, the Autocross Challenge will give racers the battle of their lives as the timed competition will test their skills on a challenging obstacle course. With the goal of spreading word about the sport, Toyota is opening the Autocross Challenge to celebrities, media, car club racers, new and current Vios owners around the metro.

The Toyota Autocross Challenge will also have a test drive Vios to get the audience to feel the vehicle, an on-site surprise where the audience gets a chance to win festival merchandise, and a photowall where people can get the chance to take photos with their chosen celebrity racer.

To know more about the Vios Racing Festival and Toyota Autocross Challenge, visit the Toyota Motor Philippines website and Facebook page.