Not world famous beaches or the Sydney Opera House, but the Supercars championship lured two Japanese fans for a few days in Australia.
The Toyota effect is starting for Australia’s premier motorsport category, with fans Shunya and Ryuji heading straight to Sydney Motorsport Park after flying into the country on Saturday morning.
Shunya planned his trip with friend Ryuji after falling in love with Supercars as a university student on the Gold Coast in 2018.
The pair won’t bother with a dip at Bondi Beach or crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge after the race weekend, and will instead drive straight to Mount Panorama in Bathurst before leaving on Tuesday.
Shunya watches all motorsports from Formula One to Japan’s Super GT, but “my number one is Supercars”.
“Firstly, the sound is amazing,” Shunya said.
“I really like the Ford Falcon, and I really love (former champions) Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen.
“Secondly, the people are kind. Drivers are kind, and team staff are kind.
“I really want to see the GR Supra on the podium.”
With the official Holden-Ford rivalry long gone, Toyota’s presence bodes well as the sport aims to nurture intrigue generated by last year’s controversial grand final into a true renaissance.
Entry was made free for Friday’s season-opening race, with many punters taking up the offer to fill up the grandstands as Ford star Broc Feeney claimed victory.
Supercars has previously experimented with the Asian market, last holding a championship round in China in 2005 before putting on an exhibition round in Malaysia in 2015.
“My friends know about Supercars, but in Japan, it’s not so much popular,” Shunya said.
“I want to watch some Japanese drivers. For example, (IMSA SportsCar Championship racer) Kaku Ohta who races for Acura.
“If a Japanese Toyota driver drives a V8 Supra during testing or is a wildcard, Supercars would become so famous in Japan, maybe.”
Toyota’s chokehold on the automotive and motorsport industry has extended to the duo’s choice of rental car for taking on Mount Panorama.
“We want to drive Mount Panorama with a rental car, a Toyota RAV4,” Shunya said.
“We will go to Bathurst National Motor Museum, and we are planning to get a toy car.”
The Supra has had a tough start to life in the championship, with Brad Jones Racing driver Andre Heimgartner leading their five-car field with an eighth-placed finish in the season-opening race.
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