Okayama International Circuit

Okayama International Circuit (岡山国際サーキット), formerly known as TI Circuit Aida (TIサーキット英田) before 2005, is a 3.703 km (2.301 mi) private motorsport race track in Mimasaka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. TI was the abbreviation of "Tanaka International" after the name of the golf club owner, Hajime Tanaka, though the name of the circuit was officially "TI Circuit Aida".

Okayama International Circuit
LocationMimasaka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Time zoneUTC+09:00
FIA Grade2
Opened1990
Major eventsCurrent:
Super GT (1999–2019, 2021–present)
GT World Challenge Asia (2022)
FRJC (2020–present)
Former:
Formula One
Pacific Grand Prix (1994–1995)
FIA WTCC Race of Japan
(2008–2010)
Super Formula
(2007–2008, 2015–2020)
Formula V6 Asia (2008)
Japan Le Mans Challenge (2006–2007)
2009 1000 km of Okayama
Length3.703 km (2.300 miles)
Turns13
Race lap record1:14.023 ( Michael Schumacher, Benetton B194, 1994)
Websitewww.okayama-international-circuit.jp
Okayama International Circuit Co., Ltd.
株式会社岡山国際サーキット
TypeKabushiki gaisha
FoundedAida (part of Mimasaka), Okayama Prefecture, Japan (August 13, 1988 (1988-08-13))
HeadquartersMimasaka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
ParentAska Corporation[1]

As well as hosting racing events, the circuit has rental facilities including bikes and go karts available.

History

The course was opened in 1990 as a private motor racing track for the wealthy.[2] Soon, it hosted its first race, staged by veteran British drivers.

In 1994 and 1995, the TI Circuit hosted the Formula One Pacific Grand Prix; both events were won by Michael Schumacher in his early title-winning years. This race made Japan one of only nine countries to ever host more than one Formula One event in the same year (Autopolis was planned to host a second Japanese race in 1993, but it never came to fruition). It was discontinued primarily due to its location in a remote area of the country.[3] The event was also planned to host a race of the 1996 International Touring Car Championship season in August to replace the F1 race, but the race was instead moved to Suzuka Circuit, held in November.

In 1999, defending JGTC GT300 champion Shingo Tachi was killed when he tested a GT500 Toyota Supra after he suffered from a technical failure that prevented him from slowing down for the first turn.[4] Although there was no driver fatality in the JGTC or Super GT race events beforehand, the incident occurred almost a year after Tetsuya Ota's near-fatal, fiery accident at Fuji Speedway.

In March 2003, the Tanaka International Company, parent company of the official circuit owner TI Circuit Company, applied for civil rehabilitation. After the application, Unimat Holding Co., Ltd. announced that it would financially support the TI Circuit Company in keeping the facility open. The company was renamed Okayama International Circuit Co., Ltd. on May 1, 2004, and the circuit was renamed Okayama International Circuit on January 1, 2005.

On October 26, 2008, the circuit hosted a round of the Formula V6 Asia and FIA World Touring Car Championship. The WTCC race was the first FIA world championship race since 1995. However, it was announced on June 21, 2010 that Suzuka Circuit would host the Japan round of the 2011 WTCC season instead of the Okayama International Circuit.[5]

On March 3, 2012, Unimat sold the circuit to Aska Corporation, an auto parts manufacturing company.[1]

Events
Current
Former

Lap records

The official race lap records at the Okayama International Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
GP Circuit: 3.703 km (1990–present)
Formula One1:14.023Michael SchumacherBenetton B1941994 Pacific Grand Prix
Super Formula1:15.237[6]Nick CassidyDallara SF192020 Okayama Super Formula round
Super GT (GT500)1:19.710[7]Takashi KogureHonda NSX-GT2018 Okayama Super GT round
LMP11:20.561[8]Jonny CockerLola-Aston Martin B09/602009 1000 km of Okayama
Super Formula Lights1:22.439[9]Ritomo MiyataDallara 3202020 Okayama Super Formula Lights round
Super GT (GT300)1:26.304[10]Naoya GamouMercedes-AMG GT32017 Okayama Super GT round
FRJC1:26.614[11]Yoshiaki KatayamaDome F111/32021 Okayama FRJC round
TCR Touring Car1:37.793[12]Takuro ShinoharaAudi RS 3 LMS TCR2019 Okayama TCR Japan round
WTCC1:48.767[13]James ThompsonHonda Accord Euro R2008 FIA WTCC Race of Japan

References
  1. 株式会社岡山国際サーキットの株式取得（子会社化）についてのお知らせ [We resolved on the acquiation of whole stock in Okayama International Circuit Co., Ltd.] (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Aska Corporation. March 12, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  2. "Course guide" (in Japanese). Okayama International Circuit website. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
  3. Cooper, Adam (April 17, 2020). "Why Japan's second F1 race didn't take off". Motorsport.com. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  4. O'Connell, R.J. "Remembering Shingo Tachi, 20 Years Later". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  5. "FIA WTCC TO RACE AT SUZUKA IN 2011". fiawtcc.com. 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  6. "2020 Super Formula Okayama Session Facts". Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  7. "2018 Super GT Round 1 Okayama GT500 Results". Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  8. "Okayama 1000 Kilometres 2009". Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  9. "2020 Super Formula Lights Round 4 Race Results". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  10. "2018 Super GT Round 3 Suzuka GT300 Results". Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  11. "2021 FRJC Okayama Round 1 Results" (PDF). Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  12. "2019 Okayama Round 1 Results" (PDF). Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  13. "2008 FIA WTCC Race of Japan Session Facts". Retrieved 21 March 2021.

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