Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand Returns to Phuket with Street Circuit Action at Saphan Hin

One of Thailand’s most popular motorsport festivals is set to return to Phuket later this month as the second round of the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand championship takes place in Saphan Hin.

The event will be held on August 29-30, when roads inside the coastal park will once again be transformed into a temporary street circuit. Spectators will be able to attend free of charge.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand combines professional circuit racing with a large-scale automotive festival. Alongside the competitive action, visitors can expect vehicle displays, entertainment zones, drift performances, concerts, and interactive activities.

Organizers have already confirmed several attractions, including drift demonstrations, a performance showcase featuring Toyota’s GR models, and displays from major automotive partners.

Festival Highlights

The preliminary program includes:

• Drift Show and Multi-Pathway Show

• GR Performance Show featuring the Toyota GR Yaris, GR Corolla and GR86

• Gazoo Racing vehicle exhibition area

• Meet-and-greet sessions with Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers and the Toyota Racing Star Team

• Partner zones hosted by Yokohama, Lenso, Somboon and Lamina

• Special promotions from Toyota dealerships in Phuket

• Live performances by local singer Tong Kaewalin and emerging artists

• A headline concert by Thai rock band Retrospect

One of the most popular attractions is expected to be the Toyota 4x4 Adventure Track. Organizers will construct a temporary off-road course featuring a steep artificial hill approximately five metres high, allowing visitors to experience Toyota four-wheel-drive vehicles in action.

Racing Program

The sporting side of the event will feature four main Toyota One Make Race categories, where competitors race nearly identical cars, placing greater emphasis on driver skill than technical advantages.

The 2026 season includes:

• Toyota Yaris One Make Race – entry-level competition using 1.2-litre Yaris hatchbacks.

• Toyota Yaris ATIV Lady One Make Race – a women’s division featuring Yaris ATIV sedans.

• Toyota Corolla Altis GR Sport One Make Race – the premier passenger-car category using 1.8-litre Corolla Altis GR Sport models.

• Toyota Hilux Revo One Make Race – a fan-favorite division featuring diesel-powered pickup trucks competing on the narrow street circuit.

A special addition for the Phuket round will be the Toyota Yaris ATIV HEV GR Sport Challenge Cup, marking the first dedicated circuit race for the hybrid version of the Yaris ATIV.

The exhibition-style race will feature automotive journalists, content creators, graduates of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy, and professional racers, including women’s division competitors Miya Thongjuea and Chacha Ramnarong.

Miya enters the Phuket weekend in strong form after winning the opening round of the Yaris ATIV Lady One Make Race earlier this season in Bang Saen.

Racing in the Heart of Phuket

One of the unique features of the Phuket round is its location. Saphan Hin is normally a popular waterfront park with sports facilities, walking paths and recreational areas. During Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand, however, it is transformed into a temporary urban racetrack and festival venue.

Traditionally, Saturday is dedicated to practice sessions and qualifying, while Sunday hosts the main races.

About Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand

The Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand championship runs from July through November and consists of five rounds across four provinces. The 2026 season also marks the 40th anniversary of Toyota’s motorsport activities in Thailand.

Following the opening round at Bangsaen Street Circuit in Chonburi and the Phuket event, the championship heads to Buriram’s Chang International Circuit for two consecutive rounds before concluding in Chiang Mai in November.

The series follows the One Make Race concept, meaning all competitors within a category drive the same model with closely matched specifications. The format is designed to reduce the influence of budgets and technical differences, allowing racing results to be determined primarily by driving skill, consistency and teamwork.

As organizers often emphasize: “There is no fastest car here — only the most skilled driver.”