In SUPER GT, press conferences are held regularly throughout the season, and at the beginning of the conference held prior to the first race of the season on April 13th, there were announcements of this season’s new Series Partner and the Series Sponsors.
The season’s new Series Partner is Kasumigaseki Capital Co., Ltd., a well-known real-estate developer and a company that has begun participation in the GT300 class with the seven x seven Racing team. They will be entering the No. 666 seven x seven PORSCHE GT3R (Kiyoto Fujinami/Tsubasa Kondo). Speaking on behalf of the company was Corporate Officer Tatsuo Higuchi, who spoke about the reason behind their participation, saying: “This year our Mobility Division put together the team seven x seven Racing and is entering it in the GT300 class. It is just over a year since our sister brand and former SUPER GT participant FAV HOTEL started seven x seven, so this is a young division, but we intend to continue with this team going forward. We believe that the team’s drivers have the kind of competitive spirit we want and the ability to be successful in a competition like SUPER GT that brings together drivers of the very highest level. Also, we believe that SUPER GT has the kind of innovative spirit, uplifting feeling and a quality that goes beyond everyday experience, which are all things shared by the seven x seven worldview.”
Next to speak as representative of the new Series Sponsor PERSOL CROSS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. was Division Director and head of the company’s Corporate Strategy Division, Shun Sekino. As a company rooted in the engineering industry, it engages in design, development and experimentation in sectors including the aeronautic, space and automotive industries, etc., with a dedication to the ideal of “people taking on challenges.” Director Sekino said, “With a spirit of untiring pursuit of new technology, we want to make a contribution by working together to support the entire group.”
Another company that has become a Series Sponsor this season is Pyramid Co., Ltd., which has been sponsoring the K2 R&D LEON RACING team participating in the GT300 class since 2013. Speaking about the company’s decision to become a series sponsor, Representative President Tatsuya Kashiwabara said: “Our company is a member of the same group as SHUFU TO SEIKATSU SHA CO., LTD., which is the publisher of LEON and we mainly produce tire reinforcement materials. We have a strong desire to help further strengthen the automobile industry and motor sports, and we also have a strong sense of the SUPER GT’s reputation, popularity, and the passion of its fans. Moreover, we have decided to support SUPER GT itself this year.”
Speaking about the tying of these new partnership agreements, GTA’s President and Chief Executive Officer Masaaki Bandoh gave words of welcome, saying: “Together with these new sponsors we will work to bring new energy and excitement to the industry, by working to create mutual “Win-Win” relationships. Working together as we have year after year with sponsors like AUTOBACS SEVEN, we have succeeded in making SUPER GT more popular and exciting. Going forward, we intend to work even harder to create contents that will be effective in this way. I also want to see us make SUPER GT’s presence in Asia even stronger.”
President Bandoh then went on to say something about the new logo that will appear on the windshield of all the participating (GT300) cars this season, saying: “The GT300 class will get a fresh start this year thanks to the new partnership with seven x seven. As for the GT500 class, it will maintain the same Bosch partnership as before.” President Bandoh went on to explain: “On the race number base, all cars will show the PONOS logo.” He then finished by once again expressing his gratitude to all the companies by saying: “Together we have succeeded in raising awareness of SUPER GT around the world, and I wish to say that I am very happy for all the support you have given us.”
