The Philippines will play host to the Euro-Racecar NASCAR Series beginning next year after the Philippine Formula Autosports Foundation Inc. (PFAFI) successfully lured the race organizers to make the Philippines their first-ever international stop in Asia.

The formal agreement allowing the country to host the Euro-Racecar NASCAR Series in 2013 was signed last Tuesday at the Manila Golf Club in Makati with Euro-Racecar NASCAR Series CEO Jerome Galpin and PFAFI president Tom Pastor inking the deal.

The European NASCAR Series is based around the concept of using NASCAR-style cars on European circuits. The cars use a Chevrolet V8 engine with a maximum power of 450 horsepower.  It uses a four-speed manual gear box, is rear-wheel drive and weighs 1,150 kilograms. Currently, the series has a 24-car grid which includes Filipino ace driver Enzo Pastor as a competitor.

Playing host to the international series will be the 4.3-kilometer long Clark International Speedway (CIS) in Pampanga which is owned and operated by race aficionado, Johnny Tan.

Galpin will visit the CIS to check on the facilities including its track layout, run-offs, medical and safety infrastructure, pit garages, pit lanes, and even media offices and other related infrastructure to make sure that it meets international standards.

“We’re very excited to bring such a huge sporting franchise like a full-fledged Euro Racecar NASCAR race to the Philippines. Every time a Euro Racecar NASCAR race occurs, fans turn these events into virtual parties and we can’t wait to bring that energy to Manila in November 2013,” Galpin said.

“We are excited to bring the Euro Racecar Nascar series to the Philippines as it is the first in Asia. We believe in the talent of the Philippine drivers and we know that they are very capable of competing in this series,” Galpin added.

The series will be covered and televised live via Fox International Channels which carries both ESPN and Star Sports.

Race track owner Johnny Tan said, they are now beginning work on the CIS to add grandstands and all other facilities required of the international race series and promised that everything will be set in place way before the hosting of the international race series.

“It has been my dream to host an international race series,” Tan said during the launch. “With the European NASCAR Series coming in November, we will make sure that everything is in place by June, giving us enough time to have the FIA inspect the track and give its approval for hosting this event.”

According to Tan, unlike the NASCAR series in the US, which is run on an oval circuit, the Euro-NASCAR uses a road-course as there are no oval circuits in Europe.