IF THERE is one thing that can match the Filipinos’ undying obsession for basketball, it’s the love of cars. And thanks to the country’s Western-influenced tastes and its undeniably breathtaking scenery, the Filipinos’ love for motoring has only amplified tenfold through the years.With more and more car enthusiasts from every generation appearing in the Philippines’ motoring scene, Filipino car enthusiasts have created what can only be considered as one of, if not, THE best motorsport event Southeast Asia has to offer: Tour de Cebu.Tour de Cebu is a 1000-km touristic and historic car rally open to sports cars manufactured in 1972 and older. Orchestrated by the Performance and Classics Enthusiasts (Pace) of Cebu with the able support of the Manila Sports Car Club (MSCC), it is the only one of its kind in the Philippines.Originally, Tour de Cebu was only meant as a celebration for decade-long friendships molded by the open road, but it has since snowballed to become one of the key players in Philippines’ road tourism.Aptly nicknamed as the “rolling museum,” Tour de Cebu will highlight classic automobiles in action. These cars are usually seen displayed in museums or pigeonholed in garages.Here are some of the classics that will be making an appearance in the historic car rally:1979 Opel GT, 1957 MGA, 1972 Porsche 914, 1868 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 1965 Porsche 912, 1970 Lancia Fulvia Zagato, 1968 Mercedes Benz 280 SL, 1960 Porsche 356B Cabriolet, 1974 MGB, 1961 Jaguar XKE, 1972 Datsun 240Z, 1968 Porsche Targa, 1963 Corvette, 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider, 1966 Toyota Sports 800, 1966 Shelby Mustang, 1971 Lotus Europa, Michel Speedster, Michel Spyder, Kougar Jaguar, 1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, and a 1969 BMW 2002.Participating drivers will be able to share an intimate moment with their automobiles as they pass by the breathtaking sceneries of the road. The tour will follow a route that begins in Cebu and ends in Bohol, where the tour will reside for three days. It is the perfect marriage between motorsport and lifestyle.Here are the guidelines for eligibility of sports cars that may participate in the event, as compiled by the MSCC. Pace grants limited exceptions for the following:
Classic cars manufactured on or below the cutoff date of 1972 with high historic value or unique provenance in the Philippines.
Classic period-correct race or rally cars manufactured on or below the cutoff date of 1972, especially exhibiting high historical value or prestige.
Run-on sports car models beyond the manufacturing cut off of 1972 are allowed pending technical consensus. (SPONSORED CONTENT)