At Mazda Fan Fest, Toyota PH’s Big Boss Makes an Appearance
There was a surprise guest at the Mazda Fan Fest at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga over the weekend. Masando Hashimoto, president of Toyota Motor Philippines, wasn’t just a spectator; he was a guest driver, personally invited by Steven Tan, president of Mazda Philippines. Hashimoto, who heads the country’s largest automotive company, even suited up and ran a few laps around the circuit with his customized helmet. It was a show of cross-brand solidarity that delighted the Philippine motorsport community.
Both Toyota and Mazda are pillars of grassroots motorsport in the Philippines, though they approach it via somewhat different paths. Toyota has the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Philippine Cup (formerly known as the Vios Cup as well as the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy Philippines (TGRA), which has been a training ground for aspiring drivers through technical classroom orientation and on-track exercises and driver skill development.
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Hashimoto himself races in the Novice Class of the TGR Philippine Cup, winning second place in this year’s edition. In May 2025 he was involved in a dramatic incident when his Vios OMR car flipped after hitting a barrier during a Novice-class street circuit race. Miraculously, he emerged unhurt, with many saying the safety features of the car like the roll cage and reinforced cabin saved the day.
After his accident, he later expressed relief and praise for how well the car protected him. So, he has been public about the importance of safety, accessibility, and inclusivity in racing, for rookies, for car club members, for people who just plainly love cars.
Mazda Philippines on the other hand, supports grassroots racing via the MSCC Miata Spec Series, the Miata Cup, and the Mazda / AAP Motorsports Development Program (MSDP), among others. These are one-make or spec?series races emphasizing driver skill, safety, affordability, and community. Mazda also supports driver development and is involved in facilitating track day?type experiences such as Fan Festa and Endurance Challenges, where owners, enthusiasts, and amateur racers can participate.
While there are other supporters in the Philippine motor sports scene, what sets Toyota and Mazda apart is that they are OEMs with continuing, structured programs specifically aimed at building up grassroots motor sport, driver development, safety, and bringing in new people, not just cars.
In that light, Hashimoto’s appearance at Mazda Fan Fest, even just as a guest driver wasn’t just a PR stunt. It’s also a clear signal to fans and aspiring racers that brands can cooperate, not just compete, and that motorsport is bigger than one company or one model. This also raises the profile of owner communities, which fosters inclusion and fan engagement, and in turn pushes brands to invest more.
“Motor racing should be borderless,” he said. “I loved this experience today and have always looked up to the car culture and enthusiasm of the Mazda owner community."
Hashimoto then surprised the crowd by extending an invitation. “I look forward to inviting Steven Tan in Toyota’s future race events,” he said, implying a sense of reciprocity and deeper camaraderie. Globally, Mazda and Toyota have made several successful alliances, including shared platforms, co-developed technologies, sometimes even overlapping markets.
