“It’s modest, but it works,” says Willie Soong has he gives us a guided tour around the unassuming two-story building. For the most part, the chairman of Formula Sports, Inc. the official distributor of Jaguar, Land Rover, Ferrari and Maserati, is correct. As we enter through the reception area, it’s glaring that there are no men in white lab coats peeking through every crevice of the car. No one here has a perfect Colgate smile either. But while things don’t look too impressive at first glance, take a closer look again and you’ll be treated to an honest-to-goodness service that’s warm and accommodating.
Opened in 1997 on the former site of Renault Philippines, Formula Sports’ service center contains all of the diagnostic equipment and special tools required to service the high-tech vehicles in the distributor’s stable. According to Mr. Soong, the facility and personnel are inline with the different brand’s globally set standards. Aside from diagnostic tools (which are updated regularly with the mother companies in the UK and Italy), there’s always a set of factory-recommended spare parts and tools on inventory. For those whose “pride and joy” require a makeover, Formula Sports’ facility includes a computerized mixing and painting facility to keep the exact factory-fresh sheen intact. Meanwhile, to cope with the requirements of the new XJ-sedan as well as the different Ferrari and Maserati sports cars, the company invested in a new aluminum body repair facility—the only one in the Philippines.
With such global standards for facilities and tools, it’s just about right that Formula Sports would invest equally on the training on their people, and on this level, they don’t disappoint. The technicians, service receptionists and management staff have been sent for training regularly in Ford’s PAG (Premier Automotive Group) training centers in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Some have been even set to Italy and the UK, where they’ve scored top ranks in internal competitors.
So while the unassuming building may not look extra-ordinary, the sheer number of multi-million peso exotics inside is proof enough of Formula Sports’ technical ability and world-class facilities. In fact, beside the usual array of X-Type and S-Type Jaguars, there is a spattering of classic cars being restored such as a Jaguar E-Type and a Ferrari 328i Quattrovalvole. Such is the ability of this modest service center, and such is the probable reason why Formula Sports Inc., through their Jaguar, Land Rover, Ferrari and Maserati brands have gained a select, but loyal clientele.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang
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