Notes from the track

“Win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” so goes the old saying in the multibillion-dollar global motorsports industry. It referred to the trend of car makers enjoying more sales soon after their cars win a race.

This old adage was an accepted fact in the mid-20th century, say veteran motorsports enthusiasts, but over the past few decades and with COVID-19, it’s not so clear anymore whether races still translate to car sales.

Some say the link no longer exists, but reading about recent trends, I learned that car sales are slowly recovering after a devastating first year of the global health pandemic, and yes, heart-thumping races have resumed as well.

Formula 1 races, for instance, have revved up again except for a few changes in schedules and the absence of wild, mammoth crowds.

Whether or not races still translate to sales now is still unclear, but just the same, I don’t think car races will ever really disappear; not even COVID-19 could kill it.

After all, at the end of the day, it’s a sport as old as time. Races continue to attract racers and enthusiasts alike not just in the Philippines, but in the world over.

It’s a $5 billion industry and one that has spawned related industries – from racing schools to car maintenance; from automotive spare parts to motorsports merchandise, and so much more.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup 2021

These and other musings filled my mind as I attended the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup 2021, the first ever Vios Cup I witnessed, both as a participant and a spectator. It was held last weekend at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Like the F1 races these days, it was not a jam-packed racing event because of COVID-19. Only those with negative COVID-19 test results could enter the Clark International Speedway and it was not open to the public. There were also a lot of health protocols, including regular sanitation procedures and regular changing of face masks. But despite all these, the excitement in the air was strong and almost tangible.

I came early for practice day as I was a first time participant for the autocross challenge, a side race of sorts to the main circuit race, but which nonetheless was heart-thumping and wild.

When I saw the autocross track and after trying it out for my first practice, I didn’t think I would finish the race, but I was pleasantly surprised and proud that I did. I didn’t reach the podium, but I will have another chance to try my luck in the third and final leg of the Vios Racing Cup next month.

After participating in the autocross challenge, I watched the actual circuit race, and while the bleachers were empty, there was so much energy from everyone – the racing teams, mechanics, drivers, production people, and all the stakeholders.

It was as wild, vibrant, and as energetic as can be – and it’s not even back to normal yet because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was the second leg of Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) premier motorsports program, made more thrilling by the surprise appearance of the new Toyota Gazoo Racing models – the Toyota Hilux GR-S and the Toyota Fortuner, both of which have yet to be launched in the Philippines.

Again, we have yet to see whether or not the race or the surprise appearance of the Hilux and Fortuner racing models will translate to sales, but I already heard people from the audience planning to buy the Hilux.

Challenging the roadblocks of the pandemic

“We are so glad to race again at the Clark International Speedway with the reliable Filipino-made Vios,” said TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto during the opening ceremonies.

After his speech, I had a chance to interview him and he also shared with me that while this year’s Vios Cup is different because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s still a major step toward helping the automotive industry reset and recover.

Braving the pandemic by holding a racing event once more is also TMP’s way of helping bring back confidence in motorsports, he told me.

Backbone of the economy

But there’s still a long way to go toward full recovery for the automotive industry, as with every other sector badly hit by the pandemic.

As TMP chairman Alfred Ty said during the inauguration of TMP’s new Batangas Vehicle Center last month, the automotive industry continues to battle itself out of the severe impact of the pandemic.

“We still have a long and uphill climb ahead,” he said.

The good news is that in the first half of 2021, the automotive market recovered to 72 percent of pre-COVID levels and continues to show an encouraging upward trend, with TMP maintaining its market leadership with a share of over 40 percent, Ty said.

Indeed, there’s a long way to go before we all recover from this debilitating pandemic, but as what I learned after I navigated that difficult autocross race track, the first thing we all must do is to have the courage to move forward–bumps, roadblocks, cruel orange pylons, and all.

Iris Gonzales’ email address is [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at eyesgonzales.com