Tuason Racing’s CEO and founder, JP Tuason, and co-founder and VP for Business Development, Jeanette Ipapo-Tuason, commemorate Phoenix’s entry as official presenters of the 2019 Formula V1 season with Mr. Bong Fadullon, Chief Operating Officer, and Ms. Ma. Celina Matias, Assistant VP for Brand and Marketing
Well-known for their fuels with advanced cleaning and protection through PULSE Technology, we at Tuason Racing are very excited to have Phoenix join us this season and stay tuned for the winner of their Young Drivers Program!
It was a scorcher at the Clark International Speedway last April 7, but that didn’t stop over 60 track-hungry drivers from joining the 12 Formula V1 racers on the tarmac for the first testing day of the season at the 2019 Giti Formula V1 Tune Up event.
Which one would you take out on track?
Exotics, American muscle, and JDM machines all warmed up the
track in the morning sessions, the invited car clubs providing a lot of
interesting sights: a GT-R chasing Ferraris, sibling rivalry between AWD STI’s
and RWD BRZ’s, and Camaros and Mustangs duking it out. Giti also announced
their entry into the local market by offering the lucky owners a chance at
being the first to run their high-performance tires with special offers during
the drivers briefing.
After the street cars pulled in to the pits, it was time for the real race cars to head out–the V1 drivers got their first solid dose of seat time for the season and, more importantly, the opportunity to shakedown their cars, dial-in their setups, and hash out any kinks with their pit crews
We’re looking forward to all the fresh liveries this season
In the Pro Class, returning contenders Jussi Hoikka and
Stefan Ramirez were joined by two familiar faces to motorsports fans–Vios Cup
veteran and motorsports enthusiast Raymond Ronquillo and the comebacking Filipina
racing queen Gaby Dela Merced–and one new but promising talent: Estefano Rivera
who put in some excellent lap times during the testing.
The AM Class with Dominic Roque, Shane Henderson, Red Diwa, and Bryan Co is also joined by three new racers with considerable seat time in karting: internationally experienced 16-year old Alex Brown, veteran Karter of the Year 2016 awardee, Jerry Choi, and young AKOC and IAME Asia karter, Cesco Dino.
The V1 drivers assemble for the first time
Using the full-layout of CIS, it was a great sight to see the V1 cars let loose on track and getting put through their paces once again. And with the sizable number of track day participants and their companions watching on, the Tune Up had the lively vibe of a proper race day.
And, of course, no track day is complete without some film, so here’s the official edit of the day to get you hyped for round one this May 18 at Batangas Racing Circuit!
The Formula V1 grid will be powered by PULSE Technology this year as Phoenix Petroleum confirms its sponsorship of the 2019 season. As the exclusive fuel of choice, Phoenix PULSE offers a formulated blend with advanced cleaning and protection properties for enhanced power and acceleration to elevate the racing series.
Launched in 2018, the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge brings back single-seat racing in the local motorsports scene. While familiar faces such as Gaby Dela Merced and Raymond Ronquillo are expected to return to the tracks this year, the competition will also feature new drivers.
More than being the exclusive fuel provider of the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge, Phoenix extends its support in elevating Philippine motorsports as it introduces the Phoenix Young Drivers Program–a sponsorship initiative that gives budding racers the opportunity to become the next racing superstar.
The search is open to candidates from 15 to 29 years old with the following requirements:
Filipino citizen or of Filipino descent
Valid driver’s license
One year competitive experience in the following grassroots disciplines: karting, drifting, circuit,slalom, off-road, autocross, andFORS (FlatOut Race Series)
Can drive a manual vehicle
After a deliberation by a screening panel, approved participants will be invited to the Formula V1 Young Drivers Program testing day on April 30, 2019 at Clark International Speedway. The event will consist of a series of tests and exercises that covers driving skills, personality assessment, and proficiency in media interviews.
“The Formula V1 line-up is already full of great talent, but we are looking forward to the Phoenix Young Drivers Program discovering even more promising racers and giving one deserving winner a chance to live his racing dreams,” said Phoenix Petroleum Chief Operating Officer Henry Fadullon.
The chosen candidate who aces these tests will become a sponsored Formula V1 driver with OTR Racing in the Phoenix Team AM Class, which includes three race weekends, three practice sessions, and a Formula V1 OMP Racing Suit.
Interested participants may sign up and register at http://bit.ly/2ZhLjwe and include your motorsports experience and credentials. The deadline for submission is on April 25, 2019. Race car drivers with extensive experience, plus an A grade license are not allowed to participate as the search is for new blood.
Saying Tuason Racing founder and CEO, JP Tuason, has a lot of racing experience and knowledge would be an understatement and the good thing is that JP likes to share his knowledge. So for the first ever #askjptuason, he answers the most basic question of all: Where should I start if I want to go racing?
He also wants to hear from you guys directly, so leave a comment about what you’d like JP to answer for the next episode, aside from being chosen, the winning question also gets a prize package as well so drop those burning queries!
If your Sunday is blank so far, how about going for a nice drive out to Clark International Speedway for the Giti-Formula V1 Tune Up event? Here are the three highlights of the day:
1. Giti Trackday featuring the exotic rides of our local supercar enthusiasts.
2. Tune Up Session where the 2019 Formula V1 teams get to shakedown their cars and drivers in preparation for round 1 in May. A chance to see some of the new faces of the grid in action for the first time.
3. Level Up Challenge featuring a lineup of celebrities aiming to take home the fastest time for a major prize-which we’ll reveal a little later on!
The Tune Up activities start 8AM onwards and entrance is free!
More than forty superbikes ripping down Clark International Speedway is definitely something that deserves a video, so here’s a highlight reel from the recently concluded California Superbike School Philippines 2019 class in February.
Spot the beautiful Kawasaki ZX10R’s of the instructors along with the other high-end bikes of the students as they learn to master their two-wheeled rides with the in-depth and integrated teaching style of CSS.
For more info on how to join the California Superbike School Philippines, head to Mwww.tuasonracing.com
CSS Philippines is also supported by Cleanfuel, Euromonkeys, Stompgrip, Hitchpro Philippines, Termignoni Exhaust, Century Resort, Motopinas and C! Magazine.
A familiar face joins the grid as Raymond Ronquillo moves up to Formula V1!
Ronquillo is a businessman with varied interests, but most people would know him as the man behind R33 Cars and their stock of exotic and high-performance machinery. Naturally, he’s also into driving cars on track. Along with his drifting and karting experience, he’s been competing in the Super Sporting class of the Toyota Vios Cup since 2015.
He’s looking forward to hitting the next-level in a V1 car this 2019. Ronquillo shares that, “racing can teach you a lot of lessons and because of that I want to gain as much experiences as possible. I also like competing and feeling the adrenaline rushing through my body whenever I’m on the track and inside my racing car.”
Could he be making the trip to Suzuka at the end of the year? We’re looking forward to seeing Ronquillo on track in the first leg!
A legend returns to the Formula V1 grid as Philippine racing queen Gaby Dela Merced joins the grid!
A veteran with 19 years of racing under her belt, the 36-year old currently works as a gallerist but is raring to get back into action. “I am happy to finally be racing a full season locally again. My last full season here was back in 2004 with Formula Toyota. There wasn’t even CIS yet! Plus i’ll be racing with the same team I was with in FT and I’m ecstatic about it!”
She’ll be racing for team Standard Insurance this season and here’s Gaby with Seymour Saldavia, Head of Business Development Department at Standard Insurance Co., Inc. and Tuason Racing founder and CEO JP Tuason sharing a light moment at her contract signing.
We’re looking forward to seeing Gaby make her return in the first leg!
You’ve voted for your favourite female racer, and one name easily outnumbered the rest. So to cap off Women’s Month, we had a quick chat with Elysse Toral Menorca! The “Lady Ace” first made a name for herself by qualifying for the Nissan GT Academy in Silverstone becoming not only the first Filipina to do it, but the first female finalist ever. Since then she’s kept busy behind the wheel, joining several local race series, most notably driving in the Vios Cup for the Toyota North Edsa – Obengers team last year-capturing the hearts of fans everywhere during her rookie season of the one-make series.
How does it feel to be Tuason Racing followers’ favorite female racer?
I’m speechless! I truly appreciate the support from them. It’s great to show support for our fellow female racers so that we can encourage more women to try and enter the world of motorsports.
Who is your very own favorite female racer?
I’d choose my good friend Diandra Gautama from Indonesia. She was the first female racer I met during my GT Academy days and she inspired me a lot and gave me a lot of tips since I was still new to racing back then.
What are you up to in 2019? Where can your fans watch you compete? I don’t have a final plan yet. There’s a chance that I’ll join the Vios Racing Festival but I will probably join other races such as Touge Battle, GT races, and Sparco.
After GT Academy and moving to real life racing, do you still play driving sims a lot? How about video games in general? I don’t always get to play sim racing anymore but I do play other video games from time to time. Normally when there’s a race coming up and I couldn’t find the time to visit the track, I practice a bit using the simulator.
Current dream car to own? Lotus Elise. Apart from it being a nice car, it has the same name as me!
What are your racing goals for the next few years?
Hoping to eventually advance up and join Formula V1 and Formula 4. Also thinking of trying out rally and more endurance races. But of course, I’m all about having more experience and improving my own skills each time.
The Motorsports festival organized by Tuason Racing, the longest running and premier motorsports organizer in the country is making a comeback on November 24, 2018, from 9 am-5 pm, at Clark International Speedway.
Tuason Racing Raceday, a coming together of automotive enthusiast and racers for a day of camaraderie and track excitement supported by GITI, Cleanfuel, Motul, Rota, AEG Powertools, OMP, Philippine Airlines, and West Racing Cars. Media partners are Autoindustriya.com, Autocar, WheelsPH and C!Magazine.
This year the festival will feature the Ultra 4 Hours Endurance Race featuring Formula V1 Cars and an invitational one make race-spec car. Ultra4 will be an ultimate test of performance. Over 20 teams are expected to compete including new and seasoned race car drivers such as Formula 3 Drivers Tyson Sy, Jojo Silverio, and Roland Hermoso; they will be racing alongside circuit racing greats such as Louis Ramirez, Carlos Anton and GT 300 Champion Velli Matti Kaikonen and Stefano Marcelo.
Also competing are the new generation of champions such as Formula V1 Season 1 Pro Class Champion Luis Gono; 2017 Vios Cup Champion Daniel Miranda. Karting sensations Estefano Rivera and Basti Escalante also join the grid.
Two Japanese drivers will also join the grid, Super GT & Porsche Carerra Cup Winner Driver Yuya Motojima and Clark speedway Lap record holder Kunihero Iwatsuki. Champion drifter Alex Perez, Actor Dominique Roque, and Formula V1 AM class champion Jussi Hoika.
Festivities include the Cars and Coffee Track Day Car with more than 50 supercars providing eye candy for attendees. OMP Virtual Challenge for those who want to try their luck in racing simulators; and a Kiddie Road Safety Park where while learning basic traffic rules at the Kiddie Road Safety Park. Also, up for grabs are a special discount on OMP racing products and lots of prizes from our sponsors.
Tuason Racing 