Clark International Speedway is renowned for hosting a variety of racing events, including the Toyota GR Cup and the Mazda Fan Festa. Another famous event at the racetrack is the Clark International Festival of Speed, which brims with culture and features cars from around the world – from JDM tuners and American muscle to European exotics.
Here, enthusiasts come and show their love for cars by either taking a look at the cars on display or, for a select few, showcasing their own in the Tour d’Elegance, with this year’s tour being one to remember. The Tour d’Elegance at Clark gives select car enthusiasts an opportunity to parade their pride and joy around the streets of Clark.
Prior to the parade, the lucky drivers get to enjoy some coffee and snacks at the Fort Stotsenber parade grounds. Leading the drive to the track was Clark International Speedway’s President, Johnny Tan, in a white Jaguar XK8 convertible, with Clark Development’s President and CEO Agnes Vst Devanadera in the passenger’s seat. Meanwhile, at Clark Speedway proper, the leader of the 236-car parade that dwarfs last year’s inaugural parade of only 80 cars was race driver Angie King in her Ferrari 458 GT3, distinctly clad in the Philippine flag.
Aside from the Tour d’Elegance, other activities at the Festival included On the Grid by No Limits, hosted on Friday night, a car meet where 220 enthusiasts showcased a wide array of cars, from JDM legends to tuners and cars from the local scene, enjoying a night of cars, music, and brotherhood in the car community. Saturday night also hosted the Legends of the ‘90s, where 165 cars celebrated the era, people, and community alike.
The Clark International Festival of Speed isn’t just a place for car lovers to enjoy camaraderie and the mechanical symphony of engines – from the pure, unadulterated sounds of a growly straight-4 or a screeching V10, to the flutters of a turbocharged straight-six or the whines of a supercharged V8. It has the potential to be so much more. President Johnny Tan stated,
“I have a partner in Japan. Hopefully, we can invite some Japanese enthusiasts to also join the Tour d’Elegance. Maybe we will invite the car clubs also to go to Japan and ride their cars also for their Tour d’Elegance. Hopefully, we can do this on an international level in the next few years,” said CIS president Johnny Tan.
Overall, the Clark International Festival of Speed is a prime example of Filipino car culture, combining gearheads’ intense love of cars with signature Filipino hospitality. So, for those gearheads in the Philippines looking for an event to meet your fellow people? Clark might just be the place to go.
