Pradera Verde Circuit set to become biggest race track in PH

It’s been a few years since we last heard of the Pradera Verde Circuit, but finally, the project has regained its traction, and construction is set to commence.

The new motorsport facility has held its groundbreaking ceremony, featuring a completely redesigned layout from the initial design presented by Formula 1 track designer Hermann Tilke back in 2018. Nevertheless, the project is still under the partnership of Tilke Engineers & Architects and PRVC president Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda.

The 2018 version of Pradera Verde Circuit

The new layout occupies less real estate than the initial version, as the motorsport facility will now span 42 hectares, with a dedicated drag strip and a V-shaped pit building with 44 pit garages. Trackside villas will also be built on the motorsport complex to promote the circuit as a holiday destination and boost tourism.

The main circuit will be 4.8 kilometers long with 17 turns and multiple configurations, making it bigger than the Clark International Speedway, which has a track length of 4.189 kilometers.

For now, the circuit management has yet to reveal the FIA grade of the new layout. The initial plan was to make PRVC an FIA Grade-2 track to host MotoGP and GT races, but the new and more compact layout could make it more of an FIA Grade 3 or Grade 4-certified circuit.

FIA states that circuits have to pass Grade-1 certifications to host a Formula One Grand Prix, so having an F1 race in Pradera is out of the conversation for now. But still, a new playground for local racing events such as the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup, the MSCC Mazda Spec Series, the Bracket and Grid Racing Championships, and the Makabayan Endurance Race Challenge Series will be a welcome sight for motorsport enthusiasts in the country.

Construction is expected to be completed in 18 months, which means we can expect the first cars to get a feel of the track by late 2026 or early 2027.