2024.05.04

【GTA Regular Press Conference: Rd.2 Fuji】 GTA introduces series partner and sponsor at Round 2.

GTA Co., Ltd. held its regular press conference from 10:30AM on May 4th, the race day of 2024 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Round 2 "FUJI GT 3Hours RACE". Before the press conference, GTA set an opportunity to introduce the series partner as well as series sponsor.

　GTA Chairman Masaaki Bandoh ushered in Kyohei Shibata, General manager, Advanced composites division, Toray Industries, Inc., Chairman, Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd., and Chairman, Advanced Carbon Fiber Composites GmbH, Akiyoshi Oku, Representative Director President, Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd., and Tadahiro Takahashi, Executive managing officer, Arai Helmet, Ltd, onto the stage.

 

 

 

 

　

　Shibata of Toray Industries, Inc. that became a new series partner commented, "Toray had been embracing a strong desire to contribute to the motorsports in Japan by utilizing emerging advanced technology such as carbon fiber composite material." Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd. currently supplies the carbon monocoque used in GT500 race cars and Oku explained the company's new stance as a series partner and how they will be engaged with SUPER GT that leads next-generation motorsports, "For a long time, motorsports has been recognized as 'laboratory on the move' or 'living research assignment'. The (current) monocoque has been in use for 10 years and it also has evolved during that time to satisfy the requirement and expectation at the fullest. However, I believe we have reached a point where we have to be more creative and implement new ideas for next generation".
 

 

 

 

 

 

　

　"We are a helmet manufacturer that has been paying attention and working on even a small thing with a mindset of better do it than not do it for the protection of head area". Takahashi of Arai Helmet, Ltd., a company that has been providing support on "safety around head area" to the drivers in and outside of Japan as well as racing as a whole since 1977, began his remark with a brief explanation of the manufacturer. "With the conclusion of this sponsorship contract, we are determined to enhance and improve the quality of the protection around driver's head area".

 

 

 

 

　Chairman Bandoh reflected on welcoming new series partner and sponsor that can also be encouraging to the drivers who compete on the track, "We will share how we see the next generation (of motorsports) and the new way of car building to improve the quality of craftmanship so that we can build even safer environment (to race)". FIA mandated wearing of carbon helmet from 2024 for enhancing safety which raised the importance of supportive involvement by helmet manufacturers, and the chairman explained how it led to the partnership, "How we should build future motorsports... It must be safe. We need to build good products. We all agreed on putting effort to realize that and that led us to the partnership". Bandoh welcomed new members of the 'family' and expressed appreciation for becoming a sponsor to the representatives.

 

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