20TH NATIONAL TITLE AT 22! Baguio racing ace conquers historic Tamaraw OMR

SPORTS

BAGUIO CITY – Baguio-born racing sensation Iñigo Navarrete Anton added another milestone to his growing motorsports career after ruling the inaugural Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Tamaraw One Make Race (OMR), earning his 20th national racing title at just 22 years old.

Anton made history as the first-ever Tamaraw OMR champion after emerging on top of a competitive field of 17 drivers in the racing series, which concluded on October 23-24, 2026, at the Clark International Speedway in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

The inaugural season featured races at Riverpark in General Trias, Cavite, in March, bringing together a mix of veteran champions, rising racing talents, and corporate executives in a series of wheel-to-wheel competitions.

In a Facebook post on October 26, Anton credited his team, Obengers Racing, for its crucial role in securing the historic championship, recording seven victories and 11 podium finishes in 12 races.

“It was such an amazing season! With my team Obengers Racing, we were able to secure 7 wins and 11 podiums in 12 races. I'll be forever grateful to the team that makes it all happen,” Anton said.

He particularly recognized the efforts of the team's pit crew, including Joemar and Gary, for preparing a competitive race truck throughout the season.

Anton also thanked Toyota Motor Philippines for its continued support of Filipino racers and for providing a platform to demonstrate the racing potential of locally manufactured vehicles.

He said the Tamaraw proved its competitiveness despite initial doubts about whether a locally made pickup truck could perform in professional motorsports.

“Many people were skeptical that we could make our own race car, let alone a race truck, but the Tamaraw proved that it can race, be fast, and be consistent. My Tamaraw went a whole season never having any reliability issues,” he said.

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

According to Toyota Motor Philippines, all competitors raced identical locally built Toyota Tamaraw OMR trucks fitted with standardized performance modifications to ensure fair competition.

Each race truck was powered by a 2.4-liter 2GD-FTV turbo-diesel engine equipped with a custom engine control unit (ECU) tune, racing exhaust, upgraded intercooler, racing clutch, and limited-slip differential (LSD).

The vehicles also featured coilover suspension systems and GR racing brake pads to enhance handling and braking performance on the track.

The standardized specifications placed greater emphasis on the drivers' skills, race strategy, and consistency rather than differences in vehicle performance.

The Tamaraw OMR championship adds to Anton's growing collection of national racing honors, which includes two TGR Super Sporting titles.

With his latest victory, the young Baguio racer further establishes himself as one of the rising talents in Philippine motorsports, as he looks ahead to another season of competition and opportunities to showcase his versatility across different racing vehicles and disciplines.