Subic International Raceway
Subic International Raceway at a glance
- Location
- Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Bataan
- Type
- historic circuit (defunct)
- Length
- 2.9 km (1.802 mi)
- Turns
- 15
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1994
- Owner
- formerly operated by Sports Values Inc. (SVI)
Track map and layout
Subic International Raceway was built on the site of a former United States military base in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, converting old taxiways and access roads into a purpose-laid, 2.900 km, 15-turn paved circuit. In its early years, from 1994 to 2001, the facility also offered a much shorter 0.800 km, 6-turn configuration alongside the full layout, giving it flexibility for karting and smaller club events before it settled into hosting the full-length circuit for its later, higher-profile international racing years.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit (final configuration) | 2.90 km | 2.900 km, 15 turns; used for Asian F3, Formula Asia and Asian Touring Car Series |
| Short circuit (1994-2001) | 0.80 km | 0.800 km, 6 turns; early-years club and karting configuration |
Events and race weekends
During its operating years Subic International Raceway hosted Formula Asia in 1998-1999 and 2001-2002, the Asian Touring Car Series from 2000-2002, and the Asian Formula 3 Series in 2003-2004, giving it a genuine run as one of Southeast Asia's more significant regional racing venues before its closure. No competitive motorsport has taken place at the site since 2010.
Getting there and parking
The former circuit sat within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, a former US naval base converted into a special economic and tourism zone in Central Luzon, reachable by road from Manila; there is no active event transport since the raceway has been closed since 2010.
- Clark International Airport (CRK) · about 60 min drive
Hotels and camping near Subic International Raceway
Visitors to the Subic Bay area, which remains a popular weekend and diving destination for Manila residents, typically stay within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone itself, which has a wide range of hotels and resorts unrelated to the now-closed raceway.
Where to look
Subic Bay Freeport Zone for the widest range of hotels and resorts in the immediate area; Olongapo City nearby for additional options.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
There is no track-day or driving-experience access; Subic International Raceway operated on a series of temporary leases that were extended multiple times before finally lapsing in July 2010, after which the circuit ceased all racing and public-access activity.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asian Formula 3 lap record | 1:11.014 | John O'Hara | Dallara F303 | 2004 |
Spectator guide
There is no active spectator event at the former circuit; it hosted regional Asian racing series through the 1990s and 2000s but has held no competitive motorsport since its 2010 closure.
Weather
- Year-round: tropical climate; hot, humid wet season (Jun-Nov) with typhoon risk, drier and cooler Dec-May
History of Subic International Raceway
Racing on a former US naval base
Subic International Raceway opened in 1994 within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, a special economic zone created on the site of the former US Naval Base Subic Bay after American forces withdrew from the Philippines in the early 1990s. Operator Sports Values Inc. converted disused military taxiways and access roads into a paved 2.900 km, 15-turn circuit, initially offering a shorter 0.800 km, 6-turn layout alongside the full track for smaller events and karting through to 2001.
A regional hub for Asian motorsport
The circuit built a genuine reputation as one of Southeast Asia's significant regional racing venues during the late 1990s and 2000s, hosting Formula Asia in 1998-1999 and again in 2001-2002, the Asian Touring Car Series from 2000 to 2002, and the Asian Formula 3 Series in 2003 and 2004. John O'Hara's 1:11.014 lap in a Dallara F303 during the 2004 Asian F3 Series stands as the circuit's outright lap record, and other drivers who competed there went on to careers in international motorsport, giving Subic a modest but real place in the region's racing history.
Closure after the lease expired
The raceway had always operated on a temporary lease arrangement with the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, initially agreed for three months and repeatedly extended over the years that followed. That arrangement was not renewed beyond 2010, and the circuit closed permanently in July 2010 after roughly 16 years of operation. As of 2026 there has been no revival of racing on the site, and it remains one of the Philippines' notable defunct circuits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Subic International Raceway still open?+
No. The circuit closed permanently in July 2010 after its lease with the Subic Bay Freeport Zone was not renewed, and no motorsport has taken place there since.
How long was Subic International Raceway?+
The final full-circuit configuration was 2.900 km (1.802 miles) long with 15 turns; an early shorter 0.800 km, 6-turn layout was also used until 2001.
What racing series used Subic International Raceway?+
It hosted Formula Asia, the Asian Touring Car Series and the Asian Formula 3 Series during its operating years from 1994 to 2010.
Why did Subic International Raceway close?+
The circuit operated on a temporary lease that was repeatedly extended after an initial three-month term, but the lease was ultimately not renewed and the facility closed in July 2010.
What is the lap record at Subic International Raceway?+
John O'Hara set the circuit's outright lap record, 1:11.014, driving a Dallara F303 during the 2004 Asian Formula 3 Series.
Other tracks nearby
- Batangas Racing Circuit · 153 km · road course
- Penbay International Circuit · 851 km · historic circuit (defunct)
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.