Subic International Raceway | |
Location: | Bataan, Philippines |
Operator: | Sports Values Inc. |
Broke Ground: | 1993 |
Opened: | 1994 |
Events: | Asian F3 Series (2003–2004) Asian Touring Car Series (2000–2002) Formula Asia (1998–1999, 2001–2002) South East Asia Touring Car Zone Challenge (1998–1999) Asia Road Racing Championship (1997) |
Layout1: | Full Circuit (2009–2010) |
Length Km: | 2.900 |
Length Mi: | 1.802 |
Turns: | 15 |
Layout2: | Full Circuit (2005–2008) |
Length2 Km: | 2.871 |
Length2 Mi: | 1.784 |
Turns2: | 10 |
Layout3: | Full Circuit (2002–2004) |
Length3 Km: | 3.000 |
Length3 Mi: | 1.864 |
Turns3: | 17 |
Record Time3: | 1:11.014 |
Record Driver3: | John O'Hara |
Record Car3: | Dallara F303 |
Record Year3: | 2004 |
Record Class3: | F3 |
Layout4: | Full Circuit (1994–2001) |
Length4 Km: | 2.800 |
Length4 Mi: | 1.740 |
Turns4: | 14 |
Record Time4: | 1:19.667 |
Record Driver4: | Ng Wai Leong |
Record Car4: | Argo Formula Asia |
Record Year4: | 1998 |
Record Class4: | Formula Asia |
Layout5: | Short Circuit (1994–2001) |
Length5 Km: | 0.800 |
Length5 Mi: | 0.497 |
Turns5: | 6 |
Subic International Raceway was a racing circuit at the Subic Freeport Zone in the Philippines. It was built in 1993, through the efforts of famed race car driver Pocholo Ramirez.[1]
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 led to the United States abandoning their base in Subic. The Subic International Raceway was established at the site of the former Naval Air Station Cubi Point's refuelling area for fighter jets. Former Filipino race car driver Pocholo Ramirez with the help of other figures in Philippine racing including Mandy Eduque, Mike Potenciano, Macky Carapiet, Louis Camus, Freddy Masigan set up Sports Values Incorporated (SVI) so that they could convert the existing paved roads and taxiways into a racing circuit.
The Subic International Raceway was opened in 1994[2] with SVI initially only able to secure a three-month lease for the racing circuit's site. The lease was extended multiple times during the racing circuit's 17-year operation.[3]
It gained approval from the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1997 and secured a grade four Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) license in 1998 which certified the racing circuit's suitability for international automotive and motorcycle races including the Asian Touring Car Series and Formula 3 races. The racing circuit was also open to amateur racers.[3]
Subic Bay has hosted South East Asia's Premier motorcycle, touring car and formula car events. The Marlboro Asia Pacific Road Racing Championship, Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) featuring the Southeast Asian Touring Car Zone Challenge (SEATCZC) and the Asian Formula 2000 have all raced here, and it also hosts the Asian 1600 Touring Car Invitational Cup, the Philippine Japan Invitational Historic Car Races and the Hong Kong Classic Car Races. The major visitor to the track today is the Asian F3 Series.
The racing circuit closed in July 2010[3] with the three-day "The Last Lap" held as the last racing event.[4]
At the time of its closure, the Subic International Raceway had a total length of 2.9km (01.8miles) with 15 turns. It had long straights that allowed for a long and short circuit setup.[3] [5] [6]
The fastest official race lap records at the Subic International Raceway are listed as:
Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Full Circuit: 3.000 km (2002–2004) | ||||
1:11.014[7] | Dallara F303[8] | 2004 Subic Asian F3 round | ||
Full Circuit: 2.800 km (1994–2001) | ||||
1:19.667[9] | 1998 Subic Formula Asia round | |||
1:22.512[10] | 1999 Subic SEATCZC round | |||
1:28.278[11] | 2000 Subic ATCC round | |||