Press Release

Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. announces that the company-backed drift^*1 racing team “Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT” will participate in Rounds 3 & 4 of the 2013 D1 Grand Prix Series (sponsored by D1 Corporation) held at Ebisu Circuit in Fukushima Prefecture on August 3 (Sat.) and 4 (Sun.), 2013.

【May 25 Scenes of Round 2 Suzuka Circuit Event Akinori Utsumi (Left) Masato Kawabata (Right)】

At Round 2 (Suzuka Circuit), Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT racer Akinori Utsumi unleashed a powerful performance to take top honors in the qualifier. Utsumi then maintained that same form to finish 3rd in the Solo Finale as well as an impressive 3rd in the overall Chase Finale standings.
In the point rankings as of the conclusion of Round 2, four Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT drivers earned seeds for Round 3: Masato Kawabata (4th), Akinori Utsumi (9th), Tatsuya Sakuma (13th), and Yoshifumi Tadokoro (15th).
The Ebisu Circuit South Course that will host Rounds 3 & 4 is known as an extremely thrilling layout that will both challenge the drivers and measure their skill. The course features a final downhill corner with poor visibility that racers must negotiate at precise angles and high speeds, only to then drift precariously close to a concrete wall that awaits immediately thereafter.
We encourage you to check out the aggressive driving of Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT led by Kawabata, who was the overall champion on this course a year ago.

The 2013 D1 Grand Prix Series kicked off on April 13 in Osaka (Maishima Sports Island). A total of six racing events will be held at locations throughout Japan, including Odaiba and Huis Ten Bosch.

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 Utsumi, Yoshifumi Tadokoro, and Seimi Tanaka
2013 TOYO GIRLS : Asami Agawa and Natsu Tosaki

■2013 D1 Grand Prix Series (scheduled)

■2013 Exhibitions (scheduled)

Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT (2013 Round 2 Suzuka Circuit)

For details on 2013 D1GP Series, go to http://www.d1gp.co.jp