Press Release
May. 21, 2013
(Announcement) Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT Team to Participate in Round 2 of 2013 D1 Grand Prix Series at Suzuka Circuit Team to Participate in Round 2 of 2013 D1 Grand Prix Series at Suzuka Circuit
Osaka, Japan -21 May 2013- Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (Akira Nobuki, president) announces that the company-backed drift*1 racing team “Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT” will participate in Round 2 of the 2013 D1 Grand Prix Series (sponsored by D1 Corporation) held at Suzuka Circuit on May 25 (Sat.) and 26 (Sun.), 2013.
【April 14: Exhibition Match Final Race】
The 2013 D1 Grand Prix Series, which kicked off in Osaka (Maishima Sports Island) on April 13, features six races held at venues throughout Japan, including Odaiba and Huis Ten Bosch.
In the opening event, Masato Kawabata finished third overall, while Yoshifumi Tadokoro took 7th and Tatsuya Sakuma 10th to earn seeds.
In Race 2, these racers will skip the preliminaries and compete for the overall championship beginning from the solo finale. This is the only race of the Series that is held at an international circuit, and its main attraction is the entry into the first corner at Series-fastest speeds of over 200km/h. The key to the race will be to what extent the racers can take a wide line into the mortar-shaped corner and make it through without losing speed. All eyes will be on Kawabata, who drives a light vehicle, and the rest of Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT to see how the drivers tune their vehicles and what driving techniques they will utilize to negotiate a course that favors long-lined, powerful racing cars.
*1: Drifting
A motor competition in which drivers cause the racecar’s wheels to slide, and the outcome is determined based on sliding technique, visual quality of driving, and performance delivered to the crowd. Drift drivers perform at a level that exceeds the limits of normal driving and racing, cutting their steering wheels in the opposite direction the car is turning in order to control their cars with an unparalleled level of balance. Compared to other motorsport races and rally competitions, the outcome is determined much more by the skill of the drivers than the performance of the machines.
<For reference>
■Overview of 2013 Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT
| Contracted drivers : | Masato Kawabata and Tatsuya Sakuma |
| Support drivers : | Akinori Uchiumi, Yoshifumi Tadokoro, and Seimi Tanaka |
| 2013 TOYO GIRLS : | Asami Agawa and Natsu Tosaki |
■2013 D1 Grand Prix Series (scheduled)
| April 13 | Round 1 | Maishima Sports Island Special Course | Osaka |
| May 25-26 | Round 2 | Suzuka Circuit | Mie |
| August 3-4 | Rounds 3 & 4 | Ebisu Circuit South Course | Fukushima |
| September 14 | Round 5 | Huis Ten Bosch Special Course | Nagasaki |
| November 9 | Round 6 | Odaiba Special Course | Tokyo |
■2013 Exhibitions (scheduled)
| April 14 | Exhibition match | Maishima Sports Island Special Course | Osaka |
| September 15 | Exhibition match | Huis Ten Bosch Special Course | Nagasaki |
| November 10 | D1 World Champions | Odaiba Special Course | Tokyo |
■Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT (2013 Round 1 Maishima Sports Island Special Course)
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For details on 2013 D1GP Series, go to http://www.d1gp.co.jp
Toyo Tire Corporation
Corporate Communications Dept.
Hyogo Head office Telephone: +81-72-789-9100 Facsimile: +81-72-773-3272
