CLARK, Philippines — Nissan Philippines will host its first Nissan Festival on 1 February 2026, with a full-day track event at Clark International Speedway.
The event runs from 10 a.m. and places Nissan cars on track through scheduled activities that include test drives, parade laps, and displays featuring both heritage vehicles and newer models from the local lineup.
Nissan said the program is designed as an open track day rather than a formal product launch, with fans encouraged to move between on-track sessions and off-track exhibits throughout the day.
A central draw of the festival is the appearance of Hiroshi Tamura, widely known among enthusiasts as the “Father of the GT-R.”
The GT-R earned the nickname “Godzilla” during its racing years, long before it became part of popular branding.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the R32 GT-R dominated touring car racing, particularly in Australia, where it repeatedly beat local favorites.
Australian media began calling the car “Godzilla,” likening it to a Japanese monster overwhelming everything in its path.
The name spread through fans rather than official channels, and it stayed because the results backed it up.
Tamura was involved in the development of the R35 GT-R from its early concept stage and played a key role in shaping the car into a production model that went on to define Nissan’s modern performance image.
During the Clark event, Tamura is scheduled to meet attendees, take part in a question-and-answer session, and join selected guests for hot laps around the circuit.
Nissan car clubs are also set to take part, with parade laps planned to highlight vehicles from different eras. Organizers said the lineup will include both heritage cars and current models.
Interactive displays will be available around the paddock area to give visitors a closer look at vehicle features and engineering details.
Test drive slots are expected to be offered in controlled sessions, while static displays will allow guests to view models up close between track activities.
Actor and Nissan Philippines brand ambassador Matteo Guidicelli is also scheduled to attend the festival. Nissan said additional activities will be announced closer to the event date.
The company said Clark International Speedway was chosen for its layout and facilities, which allow multiple activities to run in parallel without disrupting on-track sessions.
The Nissan Festival is Nissan’s first large-scale track-focused event in the Philippines, open to fans, owners and the public.