SUN SHINES FOR NISSAN
All throughout mankind’s lifetime, history has rewarded the bold with fortunes, luck and abundance.
Amid challenges, Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) and the brave people behind it still dared to stand out with the first-ever Nissan Festival.
This one-full-day affair eventually reaped rewards with a jam-packed crowd of about 1,500 attendees, along with hundreds of Nissan vehicles.
The successful event was held at the Clark International Speedway (CIS) in Pampanga, bringing together “the brand’s rich motorsport heritage, diverse product lineup, and the strong community for a full day at the track, highlighted by Nissan’s iconic nameplates that reflect the brand’s DNA of innovation and driving excitement, alongside newer models that showcase the future of Nissan performance.”
NPI president, Masao Tsutsumi said during the opening ceremony, “Now is the time for your sports cars, the GTR and the Z cars, to go back to the place where they should be—the race track. “
“I hope you enjoy, drive, see and touch the cars as they are really the heart of Nissan,” he added.
“This first-ever Nissan Festival takes Nissan history to another level here in the Philippines.”
Father of ‘Godzilla’ honors festivities
What made the event memorable was it was a trip down memory lane as CIS was teeming with various Nissan classic sports cars.
The iconic Nissan GT-R or “Godzilla” was grabbing everyone’s attention.
Of course, behind this legend is the legendary Hiroshi Tamura, the “Father of the GT-R”. He began his career with the Japanese carmaker in 1984 with the R33, R34 and R35 GT-R models; and from then on, the rest they say is history.
He is also credited for the latest models of Nissan Z cars.
Tamura shaped the GT-R through the years eventually building it into “the high-performance icon it is today.”
Guests of the festival got to meet Tamura in person and were also able to ride with him for a hot lap around the track.
“It’s great to see everyone, the Filipinos, enjoying the Nissan cars,” Tamura then shared.
“Let’s keep the Nissan spirit alive!”
Other than this, spectators were also able to witness the launch of the artsy Quiccs-designed Z car, while car clubs were able to flaunt their vehicles in a heritage parade likewise at the track.
Celebrities Matteo Guidicelli and Marlon Stockinger, along with the country’s top you racer Inigo Anton, were also there to showcase their skills and entertain the crowd.
Further bringing pizzazz to the scorching asphalt was female drift phenom Ashley Sison.
These activities were meant to celebrate “all things Nissan” while offering a hands-on look at Nissan’s engineering, design, and motorsports impact.
Looking forward to 2026
“2026 is another great cornerstone for Nissan not only since we have the Nissan Festival, but since we will be bringing in many new models to the Philippines,” Tsutsumi continued.
According to him, there will be a lot of new cars that will be introduced this year, particularly at the Philippine International Motor Show come the third quarter.
He further explained that they will be bringing in many new technologies, powertrains and many more, designed to further strengthen their presence in the country.
“We want every Nissan customer and fan to be further excited and proud to be owners and drivers of these cars.”
