THE top qualifiers of the Toyota Gazoo Racing GranTurismo will battle it out in a live e-racing tussle at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s iconic Luneta on August 24.
Free to the public, the event is part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival culminating the 35th anniversary of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), according to TMP’s Allana Faith Rufo.
The e-racers got behind the wheel in the third and final round of the virtual Toyota GR010 Hybrid in Germany’s famed Nürburgring GP track, giving them the luxury to experience the thrill of the muscle’s powerful four-wheel-drive racing hybrid powertrain.
David Enzo Ison placed first in the Junior Class, followed by Russo Gabriel Formoso and Satoshi Jacobo Taguchi Paredes, respectively.
Finishing 1-2-3 In the Promotional Class were Stanley Theodore Golez, Jan Rene Cortez Aldiosa and Benedict Salido. Russel Reyes prevailed anew in the Sporting Class, with Jether Lugo Miole and Matthew Spencer Ang finishing second and third, respectively.
The Top 8 qualifiers advancing to the National Finals for a chance to represent the Philippines in the Asia Regionals in Kuala Lumpur are Russel Reyes, Jether Miole, Matthew Ang, Mark Elman, Luis Moreno, Topher Tejada, Estefano Rivera and Bob Villangca.
Rufo said that aside from the National Finals, on tap are the exhibition races on drifting and gymkhana by international and local drivers on August 23, led by Akio Toyoda, the Toyota Motor Corporation chairman himself.
More details of the multiple treats are available on Facebook and Instagram through toyota.com.ph/gazoo.
CHINA’S DOMINANCE
NEARLY 40 percent of the suppliers for materials used in Tesla’s electric vehicle (EV) batteries are Chinese companies, according to a recent Nikkei report.
That’s a lot, another proof of China’s growing dominance in this strategic sector.
Excerpts of Nikkei’s find:
“China was the largest supplier of materials for the lithium-ion batteries used in Tesla’s EVs, constituting 39 percent of the 61 companies in the ‘storage battery’ category.
“The findings have complicated implications as countries tighten regulations and boost investment to secure supplies of materials important for economic security. China appears to be gaining the upper hand in the global market for battery materials crucial for manufacturing EVs.
“Chinese companies that were found to be vital suppliers for Tesla included Ganfeng Lithium, a major maker of lithium products, with a chokepoint score of 6.8. Novoray, a major producer of inorganic compounds, scored 7.1, while Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, which makes cobalt materials, rated at 5.7.
“Heavy dependence on Chinese supplier entails risks.
“Mari Yamamoto, a director at Fronteo, said the most worrisome risk for Tesla is that a supply chain breakdown as the U.S. and China battle for global hegemony could make it hard for the American automaker to buy batteries. An EV maker faces the risk of production disruptions if a leading supplier of a key component stops shipping the product to the manufacturer.
“With the rivalry between the US and China becoming increasingly confrontational, Tesla is taking steps to lower its reliance on Chinese parts and materials.
“As we look ahead a few years, a fundamental chokepoint in the advancement of electric vehicles is the availability of battery-grade lithium,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said at the groundbreaking ceremony for a Texas lithium refinery in early May.
“The $375 million facility is designed to produce enough of the battery metal to build about 1 million EVs by 2025.”
PEE STOP Going strong is the colossal P740-billion, four-lane airport project in Bulacan being spearheaded by San Miguel Corp. chieftain Ramon S. Ang. Ang is the sole distributor of BMWs in the country. Once completed in five years or so, the airport will trigger a massive modern transport system, both land and air, that is so efficient it will become a global envy—not to mention job opportunities for a multitude. Cheers!
