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
Coordinates34°54′54″N 134°13′16″E
FIA Grade2
OwnerAska Corporation (March 2012–present)
Unimat Corporation (April 2004–March 2012)
Tanaka International (November 1990–April 2004)
Broke ground1989
Opened18 November 1990 (1990-11-18)
Former namesTI Circuit Aida (November 1990–April 2005)
Major eventsCurrent:
Super GT
(1999–2019, 2021–present)
GT World Challenge Asia (2022–present)
FRJC (2020–present)
Super Formula Lights (1994–1995, 1998–2020, 2022–present)
Former:
Formula One
Pacific Grand Prix (1994–1995)
WTCC
Race of Japan (2008–2010)
Super Formula
(2007–2008, 2015–2020)
Formula BMW Pacific
(2009–2010)
Formula V6 Asia (2008)
Japan Le Mans Challenge (2006–2007)
Websitewww.okayama-international-circuit.jp
Grand Prix Circuit (1990–present)
Length3.703 km (2.300 miles)
Turns13
Race lap record1:14.023 (Germany Michael Schumacher, Benetton B194, 1994, F1)
Motorcycle Circuit (2020–present)
Length3.747 km (2.328 miles)
Turns17
Race lap record1:31.036 (Japan Yuki Okamoto, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2023, SBK)
Piper Circuit (1990–present)
Length1.956 km (1.221 miles)
Turns8
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 outright unofficial all-time track record is 1:10.218, set by triple-world champion Ayrton Senna in a Williams FW16, during qualifying for the 1994 Pacific Grand Prix. As of September 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Okayama International Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Grand Prix Circuit: 3.703 km (1990–present)[6]
Formula One1:14.023Michael SchumacherBenetton B1941994 Pacific Grand Prix
Super Formula1:15.237[7]Nick CassidyDallara SF192020 Okayama Super Formula round
Formula Nippon1:19.345[8]Satoshi MotoyamaLola FN062008 Okayama Formula Nippon round
Super GT (GT500)1:19.710[9]Takashi KogureHonda NSX-GT2018 Okayama Super GT round
LMP11:20.561[10]Jonny Cocker[lower-alpha 1]Lola-Aston Martin B09/602009 1000 km of Okayama
LMP9001:21.298[11]Hiroki KatouZytek 04S2006 Okayama JLMC round
Formula Three1:21.380[12]Álex PalouDallara F3142017 1st Okayama Japanese F3 round
Super Formula Lights1:22.281[13]Iori KimuraDallara 3202022 Okayama Super Formula Lights round
LMP21:24.948[10]Matthieu Lahaye[lower-alpha 2]Pescarolo 012009 1000 km of Okayama
Super GT (GT300)1:26.304[14]Naoya GamouMercedes-AMG GT32017 Okayama Super GT round
Formula Regional1:26.614[15]Yoshiaki KatayamaDome F111/32021 Okayama FRJC round
Superbike1:28.153[16]Katsuyuki NakasugaYamaha YZF-R12017 Okayama All Japan Road Race Championship round
Porsche Carrera Cup1:29.161[17]Tsubasa KondoPorsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup2022 Okayama Porsche Carrera Cup Japan round
GT31:29.249[18]Daniel JuncadellaMercedes-AMG GT3 Evo2023 Okayama GT World Challenge Asia round
Formula Renault 3.51:29.311[19]Earl BamberTatuus FRV62008 Okayama Formula V6 Asia round
GT1 (GTS)1:30.359[10]Carlo van Dam[lower-alpha 3]Saleen S7-R2009 1000 km of Okayama
GT21:32.136[10]Dirk Müller[lower-alpha 4]BMW M3 GT22009 1000 km of Okayama
Formula 41:32.202[20]Ritomo MiyataDome F1102017 Okayama Japanese F4 round
Supersport1:32.794[21]Keisuke MaedaYamaha YZF-R62017 Okayama All Japan Road Race Championship round
Formula Toyota1:34.021[22]Tsubasa AbeTom's FT302005 1st Okayama Formula Toyota round
GT1:34.335[23]Atsushi YogouPorsche 911 (996) GT3-R2003 Aida JGTC round
Formula BMW1:34.388[24]Facu RegaliaMygale FB022009 Okayama Formula BMW Pacific round
Group A1:36.281[25]Kazuyoshi HoshinoNissan Skyline GT-R BNR321993 Okayama JTCC round
TCR Touring Car1:36.706[26]Anna InotsumeHonda Civic Type R TCR2023 Okayama TCR Japan round
GT41:37.493[27]Seita NonakaToyota GR Supra GT42023 Okayama GT World Challenge Asia round
Super 20001:48.767[28]James ThompsonHonda Accord Euro R2008 FIA WTCC Race of Japan
Motorcycle Circuit: 3.747 km (2020–present)[6]
Superbike1:31.036[29]Yuki OkamotoYamaha YZF-R12023 Okayama All Japan Road Race Championship round
Supersport1:35.235[30]Kengo NagaoYamaha YZF-R62023 Okayama All Japan Road Race Championship round
Moto31:40.161[31]Hiroki OnoHonda NSF250R2023 Okayama All Japan Road Race Championship round

Notes
  1. 2009 1000 km of Okayama Race 2 - Stint Summary for Car 87 - Car Stint Report
  2. 2009 1000 km of Okayama Race 2 - Stint Summary for Car 24 - Car Stint Report
  3. 2009 1000 km of Okayama Race 2 - Stint Summary for Car 50 - Car Stint Report
  4. 2009 1000 km of Okayama Race 2 - Stint Summary for Car 92 - Car Stint Report

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. "Okayama International Circuit - Racing Circuits". Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. "2020 Super Formula Okayama Race Statistics". Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  8. "2008 TI-Aida Formula Nippon". Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  9. "2018 Super GT Round 1 Okayama GT500 Results". Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  10. "Asian Le Mans Series Okayama, Japan 30 October–1 November 2009" (PDF). Asian Le Mans Series. 1 November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  11. "Okayama 1000 Kilometres 2006". Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  12. "2017 Okayama Japanese F3 - Round 2". Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  13. "2022 Okayama Super Formula Lights Race 2 Statistics". Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  14. "2018 Super GT Round 3 Suzuka GT300 Results". Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  15. "2021 FRJC Okayama Round 1 Results" (PDF). 26 June 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  16. "2017 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Superbike Race in Okayama - JSB1000 - Race Final Result" (PDF). 1 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  17. "Porsche Carrera Cup Japan 2022 Final Result Round 2". 17 April 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  18. "2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS Race 1 - Round 9 - Classification - Final" (PDF). 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  19. "2008 Okayama Formula V6 Asia Race 1 - Official Classification" (PDF). 25 October 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  20. "2017 Okayama GT300 Race FIA F4 Race 1" (PDF). 8 April 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  21. "2017 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Superbike Race in Okayama - ST600 - Race Final Result" (PDF). 1 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  22. "Super F3 Race in Okayama 2005 ESSO Formula Toyota Series Round 4". Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  23. "GT Aida 2003". Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  24. "Victory for Regalia as Haryanto closes in on 2009 title". 31 October 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  25. "1993 TI Circuit Aida Group A 300 Km Race". Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  26. "2023 Okayama TCR Japan Race 1 Results" (PDF). 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  27. "2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS - GT4 - Race 2 - Round 10 - Classification - Final" (PDF). 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  28. "WTCC 2008 » Okayama Round 22 Results". Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  29. "2023 All Japan Road Race Championship Superbike Race in Okayama - JSB1000 Supported by ETS Racing Fuels - Race Final Result" (PDF). 24 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  30. "2023 All Japan Road Race Championship Superbike Race in Okayama - ST600 Supported by Bridgestone - Race Final Result" (PDF). 24 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  31. "2023 All Japan Road Race Championship Superbike Race in Okayama - J-GP3 - Race Final Result" (PDF). 24 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
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