LUBAO, Pampanga – A state-of-the-art motorsport facility “unlike anything the region has seen” broke ground in Barangay Prado Siongco here on June 22.
Designed by Tilke Engineers & Architects of Germany, the Pradera Verde Racing Circuit runs 4.8 kilometers with 17 turns at average speed of 155 km/h and top speed of 255 km/h.
It will feature three configurations, two club loops, and a drag strip. “A true playground to precision and performance,” said Hisham Attya, project manager, citing the international fame of Tilke Engineers & Architects in circuit design as the “warranty of excellence” for the Pradera project.
Headed by German engineer, racing driver, and circuit designer Hermann Tilke and his son Carsten, the eponymous company high profile international world circuits including those in Sepang in Malayasia, Bahrain, Istanbul Park in Turkey, Valencia in Spain, and the Jeddah Corniche, of which Attya served as project chief too.
The Pradera Verde Racing Circuit, he said, can accommodate F3 and is eyed to rival the best racing circuits in Monaco, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East.
A brainchild of Pampanga business- and sportsman-philanthropist Rodolfo “Tatay Bong” Pineda, the Pradera Verde Racing Circuit is the latest addition to the tourism, leisure, and sports hub Pradera Verde complex comprising a wakeboarding lake, 36-hole championship golf course, recreational aviation with ultralights, and a Filipino-themed amusement park.
“This has been my dream for a long time — to bring global attention to Lubao and Pampanga through sports and tourism,” said Tatay Bong. “We want to uplift the local economy by building world-class recreational hubs that put our province on the map.”
Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months, with a target completion date set for late 2026. Once operational, the racing circuit is anticipated to draw both local and international motorsport events, boosting tourism, hospitality, and allied industries in the region.
Present at the groundbreaking were key officials including incoming Pampanga Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, Lubao Mayor Esmie Pineda, several Pampanga mayors, and other stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
Punto News Team/Photos: CLMA
