Porsche Carrera Cup Japan
Motegi, Japan
(1-2nd July 2006)
 

Thanks to Cox Inc. and Tetsuro 'Nigel' Aiba for the photographs!

First time in Japan - second place finish

Matthew at speed on the Motegi circuit.

A decade on from my first visit to a Japanese race circuit I finally achieved the ambition of racing on one - at Motegi on July 2nd 2006. My first visit to Japan was probably to the Sugo Highland track in the autumn of 2005. At that time I was managing single-seater driver Brian Saunders and we were looking for opportunities for him in the Japanese Formula 3 series.

The 4.8 kilometre road circuit at Twin-Ring Motegi

The new 997 model Porsche GT3 Cup car seems to have given the Carrera Cup Japan a great boost and there are almost 20 cars in the series now, including a rather rapid young lady called Kizumi Makami (www.mikamikazumi.net)
 

I also had the great pleasure to meet the president of Porsche Japan, Toshiaki Kurosaka. He clearly understands the importance of motor sport to Porsche: “I have always encouraged it,” he told me. “Motor sport, as an example of engineering excellence, is a core value for Porsche.”

Championship leading Isao Ihashi heads the pack at Motegi.

Excellence is currently being demonstrated by Isao Ihashi who won the race at Motegi from pole position. Ihashi is dominating this year’s championship and hopes to win a drive at Macau in the final round of the Asia series. He was kind to lend me an on-board video of his qualifying lap to help me learn the Motegi circuit. This was also a smart move, since I clearly now owe him a tape from my car at Macau!

Isao Ihashi.

The PCCJ was the main supporting race to the second round of the inaugural Japan Le Mans Challenge – the brain child of the Cox Corporation’s Yukiteru Minowa. Like the Le Mans Series in Europe and the American Le Mans Series, the JLMC is essentially a franchise of the Automobile Club de L’Ouest’s sporting and technical regulations - as used in the Le Mans 24-hours.

The unusual but very effective system used for driving in gravel traps.

Starting from the back of the grid I had enormous fun working my way up to second place. There the progress stopped and I had to be content with taking fastest lap. I was impressed by the friendly atmosphere in the paddock and by the commitment shown to the series by Porsche, Michelin and Mobil1.

My friend and dedicated race fan Tetsuro 'Nigel' Aiba came to Motegi especially to support me. On Saturday we visited the excellent Honda exhibition hall at Motegi circuit and then enjoyed a fabulous local meal together with two of Aiba-san's friends in the city of Utsunomiya.