2017.12.10

The TGRF Event Turning out to be a Great Success, Inviting 42,500 Lexus & Toyota Fans in Perfect Weather!

The “TOYOTA GAZOO Racing FESTIVAL 2017 (TGRF)” was held at Fuji Speedway on December 10th. With a number of notable achievements this season, such as back-to-back titles in the SUPER GT GT500 class, and the new Lexus RC F GT3 winning twice in the GT 300 class, along with the blessing of the sun, the attendance of the event exceeded last year as 42,500 fans gathered to enjoy the event. This year’s TGRF was filled with great enthusiasm.

 

 

TGRF has a reputation of being an event which “allows you to enjoy the intensity, the amusement, and the attractiveness of motorsports to the full extent.” This year’s racing car exhibition program was plentiful. Demonstration races and demonstration runs were carried out on the racing course under the program title “Pushing the limits”, and a special performance area was installed on the paddock. Fans were able to experience the power of actual racing cars driving past them right in front of their eyes, a distance never possible on the race course. The SUPER GT category proved to be a fan-favorite. As Ryo Hirakawa and Nick Cassidy on the No.37 KeePer TOM’S LC500 won the driver’s championship and the team title for this season, and Lexus achieved consecutive double-title seasons, fans joined in to celebrate the occasion, creating an enormous festive mood.

From the SUPER GT, along with the championship winners, the No.6 WAKO’S 4CR LC500 (Kazuya Oshima (teammate Andrea Caldarelli could not make the event)) which placed in 3rd, the No.38 ZENT CERUMO LC500 (Yuji Tachikawa/Hiroaki Ishiura) which placed in 4th, the No.36 au TOM’S LC500 (Kazuki Nakajima/James Rossiter) which placed in 5th (only the drivers were present), the No.1 DENSO KOBELCO SARD LC500 (Heikki Kovalainen/Kohei Hirate) which placed in 8th, the No.19 WedsSport ADVAN LC500 (Yuhi Sekiguchi/Yuji Kunimoto) which placed in 12th (only the drivers were present) made their appearances. From the GT300 class, the No.51 JMS P.MU LMcorsa RC F GT3 (Yuichi Nakayama/Sho Tsuboi) which placed in 3rd, the No.30 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT (Hiroaki Nagai/ Kota Sasaki), the No.31 TOYOTA PRIUS apr GT (Koki Saga/Rintaro Kubo), the No.60 SYNTIUM LMcrosa (Akira Iida/Hiroki Yoshimoto) completed the Lexus/Toyota group, and the No.61 SUBAU BRZ R&D SPORT (Takuto Iguchi/Hideki Yamauchi) also participated adding a Subaru car into the lineup. A total of 8 SUPER GT machines gathered for the festival.

 

 

The Welcome Ceremony

 

At 9:30 in the morning, drivers and managers lined up on the home straight in front of the main spectators’ stand. As the president of GAZOO Racing Company, Shigeki Tomoyama, who is also the vice-president of Toyota, made the opening address and called for a countdown, the crowd of fans chanted in unison. When the count came down to “zero”, the machines that were lined up in front of the stand all started their engines. The start of the event was marked with full of entertainment.

 

 

 

 

 

Driver & Manager Talk Show

 

On the official event stage, which was located at the event square right behind the main spectators’ stand, a talk show featuring drivers and managers from both the GT 500 class and GT300 class was carried out. Some familiar faces made additions to the lineup as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing MC Yuki Imai, and manager of the No.6 WAKO’S 4CR LC500, also TGR ambassador, Juichi Wakisaka made appearances on stage, and created lively conversation.
At the GT300 class talk show, Nagai / Sasaki and Saga / Kubo and Nakayama / Tsuboi and Iida / Yoshimoto and Iguchi / Yamauchi 5 groups of 10 members all gathered up onstage. All drivers were each handed panels with an O and X on them. Whenever they were asked questions from the MC, they were to answer using the panel. Drivers answered intriguing questions such as, “Was this season a good one?” or “Do you have anything you would like to say to your partner driver?” Some drivers made convincing comments which pleased the audience, while others came up with peculiar responses which evoked bitter laughs from the audience.
Then, the program proceeded to the GT500 drivers’ talk show. Hirakawa / Cassidy, Oshima, Tachikawa, Rossiter, and Kovalainen / Hirate and Sekiguchi / Kunimoto 6 groups of 9 members made appearances for this segment. The program was carried out just like the GT300 segment, as drivers answered questions asked by the MC using the O and X panels.

 

 

In the afternoon, the managers of the SUPER GT and Super Formula teams were gathered for a managers’ talk show. From the SUPER GT, No.37 KeePer TOM’S LC500 TOM’S representative Nobuhide Tachi, and No.36 au TOM’S LC500 manager Daisuke Ito, No.19 WedsSport ADVAN LC500 manager Masataka Bandoh, and No.61 SUBARU BRZ R&D SPORT manager Hideharu Tatsumi, from Super Formula TEAM IMPUL manager Kazuyoshi Hoshino, KONDO RACING manager Masahiko Kondo, and also playing a role as manager in this category Yuji Tachikawa (No.38 ZENT CERUMO LC500) made appearances on stage. As Tachi shared his satisfaction commenting, “Being a representative really pays off when you win the championship.” Hoshino responded, “Next year we will aim both championship titles in the SUPER GT and the Super Formula!” In response to Hoshino’s bold comment, the MC pointed out, “From the Lexus standpoint, we don’t really want you to put too much effort in SUPER GT! (as Hoshino leads a competing manufacturer in GT)” which made the audience burst into laughter.

 

  

 

 

 

SUPER GT Demonstration Run

 

At the special performance area setup on the paddock, Hirakawa performed a demonstration run on car No.37 which won this season’s championship. Although the area had limited space, fans filled the perimeter and cheered happily as they witnessed the intensity of an actual SUPER GT machine driving in a distance far closer than a course side view could ever offer.

 

  

                                                                             [Photo: Shinpei Suzuki]

 

 

Pushing the limits

 

“Pushing the limits” was the main attraction prepared for the racing course. Toyota & Lexus racing cars which competed in various categories both this season and from the past, performed races and demonstration runs. In the SUPER GT segment, a total of 7 cars including car No.37, No.38, and car No.1 from the GT500 class, and 4 cars from the GT300 class performed a demonstration race. The Lexus LC500 machines which had just come through a strong season, pulled off an intense performance just like from the season, as the cars closely competed while changing positions. The newly introduced car No.51 RC F GT3 which recorded 2 wins this season, lead the GT300 class.

 

  
 

Although this was a demonstration race, just as the cars were recovering onto the course after making a driver switch, TGR ambassador Wakisaka waved a red flag on car No.37 and the two LC500 cars which followed it. The cars pulled over on the pit road. Then, the pit interviewer walked over to car No.37, opened its door, and suddenly started interviewing Hirakawa. Next, he walked over to car No.38 to talk to Ishiura, and the fans were entertained by this unexpected situation.

 

[Photo: Shinpei Suzuki]

 

A champion’s parade was prepared for the finale of the “Pushing the limits” program, as the 7 cars which won series champion in each category paraded on the tracks. Fans filled the stands, cheering and applauding to the heroic appearance of the GT500 class winner, No.37 KeePer TOM’S LC500 and other championship machines. After the parade, GAZOO Racing Company President Tomoyama commemorated Hirakawa, Cassidy, and other winners by presenting ceremonial flowers.

 

 

 

Circuit Safari

 

The final event which took place on the racing course of Fuji Speedway, was the circuit safari, a popular event throughout the season. This time, a total of 1200 fans were treated to the attraction as 10 buses made 3 trips around the circuit. Hirakawa, Rossiter, and managers Wakisaka, Ito, Bandoh, representative Tachi, and Hoshino made appearances on the buses as bus guides, a truly grand lineup for the occasion. The safari itself was enhanced in entertainment as 8 SUPER GT cars accompanied by machines which competed in the Super Formula and 24 Hours Nurburgring, raced alongside the 10 large-size buses. As the fans exited the buses after returning to the pit road, their faces were filled with joy and satisfaction.

 

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