When a brand asks if you want to go to Fuji Speedway for an event, there aren’t enough ways to say “yes.” So, when the call came in through Mazda Philippines’ president and CEO, Steven Tan, our bags were packed faster than you could drop the roof of an ND MX-5.
Fuji Speedway is one of those legendary tracks that car enthusiasts ought to make a pilgrimage to. Alongside the likes of Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, and Silverstone, this humble Japanese racetrack in the shadow of Mt. Fuji has always been on my bucket list. From F1 championships that have been won and lost on this very asphalt, to the pristine views of the symbol of Japan, to even just how crisp and clean the air is (at least, when it’s not thick with the fumes from race cars), Fuji Speedway is, in a word, special.
So when the event we were invited to happened to be the 2025 Mazda Fan Festa, we were surprised to discover that it was actually only the Philippines that sends a delegation to these hallowed grounds.
With a similar event taking place locally in Clark—the Philippines being the only Mazda distributor outside of Japan to hold its own Fan Festa—we thought that we knew what to expect, but it just could not hold a candle to even our loftiest expectations.
Here are six reasons why, if you have the chance, you must absolutely attend the Mazda Fan Festa in Fuji Speedway.
1) It is the best opportunity to see the legendary Fuji Speedway.
During a typical race weekend, Fuji Speedway is usually abuzz with an abhorrent number of people, with access limited by ticket. But during Fan Festa, attendees are relatively more spaced out, with enough room to make even the shyest of introverts feel welcome.
You can walk right behind the pit area, up and down any of the many grandstands or bleachers, and you will have space to sit down, stretch out, and enjoy the cars, the track, and the amazing views. There is no better time to visit Fuji to take in the atmosphere of a Formula 1 track than surrounded by fellow like-minded Mazda enthusiasts, and all the space in the world to choose a perfect vantage point from which you can witness all the action.
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2) The parking lot is absolutely packed with rare, cool, and awesome Mazdas.
Just walking into the track, you are already greeted by what seems like a Mazda car show in the parking lot. Like a cars and coffee on steroids, you will see some of the rarest and most tastefully upgraded Mazdas this side of Japan.
From the MX-5s and the RX-7s, to the gullwinged Autozam AZ-1s, to even more exotic offerings from the Hiroshima-based brand like the extremely rare Cosmo 110s, you will not be left wanting.
It doesn’t help that Japanese fans are obsessive about parking in specific areas with like-minded owners, which is why you will see all these cars parked in extremely perfect and neat lines up and down the parking lot. We love seeing well-mannered car meets, and the Japanese are the absolute masters of the art.
3) The 787B and other insane rotary-powered race cars take to the track.
We’ve already written about the insanity of the Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B, but what we didn’t mention is that it shares the track with so many other, less well-known rotary-powered cars. From some of the coolest RX-3s you will ever see, to some Cosmo 110s driven by some really brave owners, to the modern cars like the 3 and the MX-5s, there really is something for everyone driving hard around the track.
More than that, there is actually something called a “circuit safari.” We had seen this before in other tracks, like in Sepang, wherein a bus full of fans would slowly make its way around the track while being overtaken at extremely high speed by all the cars driving at the time. While we have seen this before, we find that the addition of the screaming 787B makes this a must-do for anyone attending the event.
4) For fans, the shopping can get out of hand.
Before going here, I was warned by our editor-in-chief Dinzo Tabamo, who had the pleasure of attending last year’s event, that the shopping on site would be crazy. But “crazy” did not even come close to just how much restraint I had to exercise to stop my wallet from flying out of my hands and into the cash registers of all the sellers in a true “shut up and take my money” moment.
The merch, oh god, the merch was absolutely amazing, from extremely limited-edition Mazda Fan Festa 2025 Tomicas, to the best driving gloves you have ever seen, to even a 787B towel and smartphone case. If you ever thought you wanted Mazda merch (or Rays or BBS), this mini farmers market of a convention is absolutely going to ravage your wallet.
And don’t worry (or worry a lot), because almost everyone accepts credit cards.
5) It’s a family event for the next generation of Mazda enthusiasts.
Unlike some events where you can see that it’s only the true enthusiasts who are having a blast, a quick glance around would show scores of kids running around with their parents and having fun. From small activities like customizing a leather keychain or RC car racing, there is literally an activity for anyone and everyone to enjoy.
You can see whole families cramming behind the barriers with fathers holding up their kids (dressed head-to-toe in 787B merch) while everyone tries to catch a glimpse of Mazdas on track. It is a very special kind of experience, one that transcends generations.
6) It will linger with you for days after.
When the fumes from the racing and the exhibitions settled, we watched as all the fans in their Mazdas slowly made their way onto the track for a slow parade, a quiet farewell to Fuji, at least for this year. It was a surprisingly emotional and poignant moment as it further emphasized just who the focus was of this entire event.
This is exactly how you cater to your most diehard fans, and by doing so, you ensure you are making new fans for the far future. It’s a win-win for Mazda and its humble Fan Festa. If you have the chance, go; if you aren’t lucky enough to snag a ticket, rest assured that we see that Mazda Philippines is doing its best to make the local iteration of the Fan Festa live up to the event that was its progenitor.
See you in Fuji! If not, we will definitely see you in Clark.
More photos of Top Gear Philippines’ visit to Mazda Fan Festa 2025 at the Fuji Speedway:
