2016.11.27

40,000 fans turn out for TGRF event despite the rain! Excitement at Fuji Speedway

The familiar “TOYOTA GAZOO Racing FESTIVAL 2016 (TGRF)” off-season event was held at Fuji Speedway on Nov. 27. Although Sunday saw intermittent rain, an astonishing 40,000 Toyota/Lexus fans showed up for the event, making the TGRF a big success again this year.

 

 

 

This year’s TGRF, touted as “providing satisfying participatory content for everyone from motorsports fans, to children and women,” maintained popular content from the previous year including the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Exhibition and the special stage performance of the AKB48’s Team 8, while adding additional content related to rallies, this year. The Super GT however, still remains the main highlight of the program, and the most popular attraction of the event. The winner’s of the Drivers Championship of this year’s Super GT series was the No. 39 DENSO KOBELCO SARD RC F’s driver pair of Heikki Kovalainen and Kohei Hirate, and their team was also awarded the Team Title; the festive mood was at a height, since Lexus regained the title for the first time in three years (photo above shows the victor’s number “1” being placed on the car). Those others in attendance included six cars from the Super GT’s GT500 class, the No. 6 WAKO'S 4CR RC F (Kazuya Oshima/Andrea Caldarelli), which came in 2nd place; No. 19 WedsSport ADVAN RC F (Yuhi Sekiguchi/Yuji Kunimoto); No. 36 au TOM'S RC F (Daisuke Ito/Nick Cassidy); No. 37 KeePer TOM'S RC F (James Rossiter/Ryo Hirakawa); No. 38 ZENT CERUMO RC F (Yuji Tachikawa/Hiroaki Ishiura); as well as four teams from the GT300 class, including the No. 25 VivaC 86 MC (Takeshi Tsuchiya/Takamitsu Matsui), also double-title winners; the No. 31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT (Koki Saga/Yuichi Nakayama); No. 60 SYNTIUM LMcorsa RC F GT3 (Akira Iida/Hiroki Yoshimoto); and the No. 61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT (Takuto Iguchi/Hideki Yamauchi) (only the drivers were present from the No. 30 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT).

 

 

The Wakisaka Talk Show

 

An event called the “Wakisaka Talk Show” and featuring TGRF ambassador and team manager of Number 6 LEXUS TEAM LEMANS WAKO, Juichi Wakisaka, as its host was held at a special stage set up in the paddock. A number of GT500 and GT300 drivers made appearances. In the GT500 part of the talk show, the [Lexus] drivers expressed in unison that the engine introduced at the last GT round in Motegi, marking it the 3rd engine of the season, had outstanding performance. As the conversation shifted toward the next season, Tachikawa, who also directs the machine development, exclaimed, “While I am anxious to some extent, because I am in the dark as to where our rivals stand, I think the new LEXUS machine is fast, and will become even faster. [We at LEXUS] want to get back-to-back titles (by becoming Champions again) next season.”
Part 2 of the “talk” featured GT300 drivers, and champions Tsuchiya and Matsui made their appearance. An amicable atmosphere prevailed through the exchange, with such revelations as Akira Iida’s relinquishing of the racing line to Tsuchiya as he approached from behind in the trials for the final round.

 

 

 

 

 

The Circuit Taxi and the Circuit Safari

 

The Circuit Taxi (where participants are taken on ride-alongs) and Circuit Safari are designed for fans to experience the difficulties and excitement as professional drivers race the circuit. The Circuit Safari, where machines from not just the SUPER GT, but SUPER FORMULA, and also machines entered in the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race join together on the track, appeals greatly to audiences. The smiles and looks of wonder on the faces of participants as they finished their Circuit Taxi ride-alongs with GT drivers were remarkable.

 

  

 

 

Special SUPER GT vs. SUPER FORMULA Battle

 

This exhibition race called the “Special SUPER GT vs. SUPER FORMULA Battle,” featured cars from both SUPER GT and SUPER FORMULA. It is another highlight event that is unique to the TGRF. Unfortunately, the rain began to fall heavier just as the race was beginning. In the first lap after starting behind the pace car, a SUPER FORMULA car spun out at the first turn and came to a stop. Surface conditions appeared trying as machines continued to drive off course, and the exhibition race was cut short, to the disappointment of many. At the same time, cheers were heard from the crowd as they witnessed such race sights as enormous splashes that went up on the main straight, and cars counter-steering through the turns.

 

  

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