15 drivers from across Asia will compete for regional honours and a USD$31,000 prize pool.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Asia Esports GT Championship 2026 Asia Finals will return to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 15 November, marking Malaysia’s third time hosting the event. Bringing together 15 drivers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the event will see established names and emerging talent go head-to-head across three races for individual and team honours and a share of the USD$31,000 prize pool.
Indonesia’s Andika Rama will defend his title following victories in 2023 and 2025, while Malaysia’s Taj Aiman, the 2024 champion, will race on home ground in pursuit of another win. Singapore’s Ar Muhammad Aleef, the 2020 champion, completes the trio of former winners returning to challenge for the title.
Following last year’s Finals in Bangkok, the championship continues TGR Asia’s commitment to growing the regional e-Motorsports community. TGR’s philosophy of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars is rooted in the belief that roads build people, and people build cars. The championship brings this spirit of learning through racing to the virtual track, giving more drivers the opportunity to compete, learn and showcase their skills. By bringing drivers and fans together through a shared passion for motorsport, it also extends Toyota’s belief in Mobility for All to the racing community.
"The Asia Finals bring together talented drivers from across the region, united by their passion for racing," said Preston Tan, Vice-President, Toyota Motor Asia. "We are thrilled to bring the competition back to Malaysia, where former champions and emerging talent will compete alongside one another. We have also been especially encouraged to see drivers from previous editions go on to compete in real-world motorsport, and even on bigger stages such as the Asian Games, a testament to how the championship can be a genuine pathway into the sport. Through e-Motorsports, we hope to continue creating more opportunities for people to experience the excitement of racing and inspire the next generation of motorsport fans."
Former Champions Meet New Contenders
Joining the three former champions are five newcomers ready to make their mark on the Asia Finals stage: Michael Velasquez of the Philippines, Jirat Pakjilayuwat of Thailand, Stanislas Yuveardhitra of Indonesia, and Malaysia’s Nabil Azlan and Ethen Low.
Each market will also field one driver aged 18 or under, giving younger competitors the opportunity to test their skills against experienced regional contenders.
Three Races to Decide Regional Honours
All 15 drivers will compete across three races, beginning at Grand Valley – Highway 1 in the GR Supra Racing Concept ’18 – Gr.3, followed by Nürburgring GP in the GR Yaris RZ "High performance" ’20. The final race will see drivers take on Fuji Speedway in the SF23 Super Formula/Toyota ’23, with each change of circuit and car challenging competitors to adapt as they pursue the regional titles.
Drivers will earn points based on their finishing positions, with 25 points awarded for first place, 20 for second and 16 for third, with points awarded down to 15th place. A two-point fastest-lap bonus offers a further opportunity for drivers to gain an edge.
USD$31,000 in Prizes and Additional Honours
A total prize pool of USD$31,000 will be awarded across the individual and team categories, retaining the same prize structure as last year.
Individual | Team | |
Champion | USD$8,000 | USD$8,000 |
1st Runner-up | USD$4,500 | USD$4,500 |
2nd Runner-up | USD$3,000 | USD$3,000 |
Alongside the championship prizes, additional trophies will be presented for Best Race Craft, Rookie of the Day and Driver of the Day.
Join the Action in Kuala Lumpur
Beyond the main championship, a series of exhibition races will bring Toyota representatives, media and esports drivers into the action. The GR Asia Race on 14 November will see representatives from Toyota Motor Asia and participating regional companies take to the virtual track. On 15 November, the Media Pro-Am Race will pair media representatives with Asia Finalists, with teammates sharing driving duties during the race. An Esports Team Race featuring teams from Thailand will add to the weekend’s excitement.
Fans across the region can also follow the 2026 Finals live on TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia’s Facebook page, as well as selected market-specific X and YouTube channels.
Returning host Victoria Cheng will lead the action, joined by Dez Corkhill and Amir Haziq on English-language commentary, with Amir also covering Bahasa Malaysia. James Laohongthong and Kulachart Oat Rhuvatana will provide Thai commentary, while Ari Saputra and Mike Denaldi return for Bahasa Indonesia coverage.
Together, the commentary team will bring fans closer to the competition, covering the overtakes, race strategies and decisive moments as the drivers battle for regional honours.
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Appendix
Outline of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia Esports GT Championship 2026
Event Name | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia Esports GT Championship 2026 |
Event Date | Sunday, 15 November 2026 |
Event Location | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
Participation Requirement | Owner of PS4 or PS5, with Gran Turismo 7 installed. |
Drivers
Country | Drivers |
Thailand | Thanaphat Pungphat |
Maijukkree Areekijseree | |
Jirat Pakjilayuwat – Asia Finals debut | |
Malaysia | Taj Aiman – 2024 champion |
Nabil Azlan – Asia Finals debut | |
Ethen Low – Asia Finals debut | |
Singapore | Ar Muhammad Aleef – 2020 champion |
Fadtris Isa | |
Jayden Liaw | |
Indonesia | Moreno Pratama |
Stanislas Yuveardhitra – Asia Finals debut | |
Andika Rama – 2023 and 2025 champion | |
Philippines | Russel Reyes |
Enzo Ison | |
Michael Velasquez – Asia Finals debut |
Point System of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia Esports GT Championship 2026
Award | |
Individual | Cumulative points of each race participated |
Country | Total of all (3) individual participants representing the country |
Exhibition Races
1. GR Asia Exhibition Race
Circuit: Fuji Speedway
Car: Super Formula
The GR Asia Race will bring Toyota representatives together for an exhibition race, providing an opportunity to experience competitive sim racing and connect with colleagues from across the region. Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers.
2. Pro-Am Exhibition Race (Media & Asia Finalists)
Circuit: Nürburgring GP
Car: GR Yaris
Media representatives will partner with Asia Finalists, with each pair sharing driving duties. Media participants will set the qualifying times, while the race will include one mandatory pit stop and a driver change. Trophies will be awarded to the top three pairings.
3. Asia Esports Team Exhibition Race
Circuit: Grand Valley Highway-1
Car: GR Supra Racing Concept ’18 – Gr.3
The Esports Team Race will bring together 15 racers for an exhibition contest, with trophies awarded to the top three finishers.
About the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia Esports GT Championship 2026
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia Esports GT Championship 2026 is the regional online race, which will bring together the top gamers from each of the participating countries in Asia to pit their skills against each other.
Players will race in "Gran Turismo 7" on their PlayStation®4*1 (PS4®) or PlayStation®5*1 (PS5®) in a selected Toyota GR line-up.
Under the global vision of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, e-Motorsports has evolved to be one of the key pillars of TGR motorsport activities and is an exclusive platform to engage with the increasing motorsport-lovers around the world.
About TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR)
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) is TOYOTA’s racing company where motorsports activities are a key pursuit of product development. Its ethos builds on a heritage of more than 60 years of excellence in "making ever-better motorsports bred cars". With this aim, the company takes into account feedback and learnings gained on tough racing roads under harsh environments to create the thrill and joy of racing Toyota GR cars for everyone.
About Toyota Motor Asia
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Asia is the motorsports arm at Toyota Motor Asia [TMA], the regional corporate headquarters and subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. TMA leads and supports the Asia Pacific region in sales and marketing activities, service parts, accessories and customer services, thus contributing to the overall development of auto industry and the growing economies in the region.
Toyota envisions the future mobility society to bring freedom of movement to all. Moving forward, Toyota will provide a diverse range of mobility services and transportation solutions to people around the world as we transform Toyota into a mobility company.
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