As we approach the end of 2021, and the 49th article about GT Sport’s ranked online Daily Races schedule by Traxion.GG, it’s time to reflect upon what makes the Japanese racing scene so vibrant.
There’s Suzuka for one. The International Racing Course first opened in 1962 and is run by the wonderfully esoteric Mobilityland Corporation, a subsidiary of Honda. It’s been home to the Japanese Grand Prix on both four and two wheels, WTCC/WTCR events, Super GT, Super Formula, World Sportscar Championship and in 1996-7 even NASCAR exhibition events.
But what’s a Honda-owned race track with a Toyota rival? Fuji International Speedway is just that. Original owned by Mitsubishi, it was purchased by the Toyoda family in 2000. It too has held Japan’s finest motorsport championships and Formula 1 races, but over the years has changed in profile far more significantly than Suzuka.
Finally, there’s Polyphony Digital, the creators of the Gran Turismo game series – also track developers and owners in its own way. Take Kyoto Driving Park, for example, a fiction venue set in the former capital of Japan on the Honshu island.
With all three venues in this week’s Gran Turismo Sport playlist, it’s a tribute to the East Asian nation’s illustrious racing pedigree.
Race A not only utilises the most fabled of Japanese venues, Suzuka, but the first Japanese supercar – a Honda NSX.
Not just any NSX, either, but the 1992 Type R. This means you can recreate a video that generates fever amongst car aficionados. Ayrton Senna, pounding around the same track in this very car. The only additional item you need for an authentic experience is a set of brown loafers…
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