Five carmakers are enjoying the challenge of the Super Taikyu Series ST-Q class. During a press conference at the Round 2 Fuji 24 Hours Race, representatives from each company shared their commitment to ensuring a future for both engines and motorsports.
Racing with a message
The five representatives also gave their tips on what to look out for in the ST-Q class.
HRC General Manager Kuwata
Whether it’s 4 hours or 24, watch the mechanics and the entire team working as one to get across the line.
I hope more people will take an interest in motorsport and come to recognize and enjoy it like any other sport. モータースポーツに興味のない方々にも一つのスポーツとして認めてもらって、好きになってもらいたいと思っています。
NISMO CVP Ishikawa
Even though, personally, 24-hour races can feel like a hard slog from start to finish, for some reason, they get you really fired up (laughs).
As we talked about yesterday, the process of devising unusual workarounds to get the car ready for these 24 hours is a wonderful experience for mechanics.
The congenial atmosphere of Super Taikyu has enabled us to pursue a different kind of development, and I want to share that through social media and other channels.
SUBARU CTO Fujinuki
I don’t believe that cars should be given a bad name. They allow us to freely go wherever we want. Cars are fascinating industrial products.
We are also working to reduce our impact on the environment by taking on the 24 hours with CN fuel to improve its safety.
I think it would be great if the fans that come to support us can enjoy that aspect as well.
Nowadays, if you admit to liking cars, people look at you as some kind of eccentric. I hope that here in Japan, we can fire up the auto industry and send the message that this is simply not true.
Mazda Spirit Racing Team Principal Maeda
The part of Super Taikyu that I most want people to see is the teamwork. Our team mechanics are actually ordinary employees from one of our distributors, Hiroshima Mazda.
They are giving their best in a very intense environment, demonstrating that this is a team effort, not just about the drivers.
Motorsport is, after all, a sport. Though it doesn’t get much airtime on TV these days, we want to be included alongside the likes of soccer, baseball, and rugby.
I want to show that this really is a sporting arena, full of excitement and struggles, with people putting their sweat and tears into competing against each other.
President Takahashi
Developing something new is incredibly tough. I have the utmost respect and gratitude for our frontline members who are working to make it happen.
I want other people to see their efforts as well—not only the evolution of our cars but also what the genba looks like.
I always say that, in order to make our customers smile, we have to start by enjoying the work we do.
Even when the going gets tough, I want people to see us and think, “Those guys look like they’re having fun.”
Our job is to serve car lovers, so I want that to be our main output.
