Subic International Raceway Explained

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]

History

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]

Racing track

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]

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at the Subic International Raceway are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
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

Notes and References

  1. News: Pinky Concha Colmenares . Pocholo Ramirez, the Racing Legend . Manila Bulletin . 20 March 2009 . 27 March 2009.
  2. News: Subic raceway closes, but owner eyes more international races . 7 January 2020 . Balita . Philippine News Agency . 13 August 2010.
  3. News: Roces . Iñgo . The Last Lap of Subic Raceway . 6 January 2020 . Auto Industriya . 16 August 2010.
  4. News: Osis . Roderick . Anton scores win in 'the Last Lap' Subic race anew . 7 January 2020 . Sun Star . 28 August 2010.
  5. Web site: Subic Bay . RacingCircuits.info . 30 December 2023.
  6. Web site: Subic International Raceway . gdecarli.it . 30 December 2023.
  7. Web site: Race No. 2: Round 3 Date: 30 May 2004 Track: Subic Int. (3,000 km) . 10 January 2023.
  8. Web site: John O'Hara - Driver Database . 10 January 2023.
  9. Web site: Asian Formula 2000 Round 4 Results: Asian Festival of Speed, Subic, Philippines May 23rd-24th., 1998 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010627063707/http://www.afos.com/afsdox/af2000/1998/r4res.html . 27 June 2001 . 30 December 2023 . dead.
  10. Web site: South East Asia Touring Car Zone Challenge 1999 Round 1 Results: Asian Festival of Speed, Subic, Philippines May 22nd-23rd., 1999 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010221184744/http://afos.com/afsdox/seatczc/1999/r1results.html . 21 February 2001 . 30 December 2023 . dead.
  11. Web site: Asian Touring Car Championship 2000 Round 2 Results: Asian Festival of Speed, Subic, Philippines April 30th., 2000 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010515085956/http://afos.com/afsdox/atcc/2000/r2results.mv?one_rnd=2&event_year=2000&dates=April+29th+-+30th&location=Subic+Bay,+Philippines . 15 May 2001 . 30 December 2023 . dead.