Japanese
On January 13, at the awards ceremony of the 2016 ASEA AWARD held at a hotel in Chiba City, the Chairman of the GTA Co., Ltd that organizes the SUPER GT series, Masaaki Bandoh, was presented the coveted overall ASEA AWARD for 2016.
The reason Chairman Bandoh was selected for the 2016 overall award was his accomplishments in leading the SUPER GT to become the top-level race series in Japan and helping it become a sporting event that draws audience of the largest scale in Japan.
At the awards ceremony, Chairman Bandoh reflected not only on the efforts that have helped raise the level of GT racing and increase the number of spectators but also initiatives to enrich the racing environment and car technology, such as introducing the JAF-GT300 “Mother Chassis” that team garages can add their own innovations to and thus support Japanese “Monozukuri” (product creation and craftsmanship). Then he expressed his joy on receiving the award and his commitment for the future by saying that he will continue to do his best for the further development of SUPER GT going forward. The gathered audience responded to these comments with a hearty round of applause.
The ASEA AWARD special award presenter, Vice-President of NAPAC, Keiichiro Nakashima, and Masaaki Bandoh
ASEA ‘Autosports & Special Equipment Association’ was established in 1981 as an industry organization made up of representatives of companies involved in the manufacture, import, and sales, etc., of parts and accessories for motor sports. Currently, ASEA is a division of Nippon Auto Parts Aftermarket Committee (NAPAC), an organization dedicated to the promotion of the automotive aftermarket parts/goods industry. The ASEA awards are made annually at NAPAC’s “First Gathering of the New Year.”
Since 1986, the ASEA presents its ASEA AWARD to those who have made exceptional contributions to Japanese motor sports.
NAPAC Chairman Nobuhide Tachi addressing NAPAC’s “First Gathering of the New Year” where the ASEA AWARD is presented
| 4/13-14 | Round1 OKAYAMA | |
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5/03-04 | Round2 FUJI |
| 6/01-02 | Round3 SUZUKA | |
| 8/03-04 | Round4 FUJI | |
| 8/31-9/01 | Round5 SUZUKA | |
| 9/21-22 | Round6 SUGO | |
| 10/19-20 | Round7 AUTOPOLIS | |
| 11/02-03 | Round8 MOTEGI |