In the SUPER GT Series Round 2, which took place at Fuji round, the
total number of spectators reached 89,400 people in 2 days. A total of 57,200 people were mobilized on the final day alone, and a grand stand
overflowed with the overcrowded spectators.
Many spectators visit the "SUPER GT" Fuji round every year, and the crowding of the surrounding highway is well known. In the 2 days, additional 9300 spectators that the previous year came to see. The fact that the additional 8700 spectators on the final day shows the rise of the marvelous popularly of "SUPER GT".
Of course, the big reason is the recovery of economy, and the mobilization
in other race events are also in the recovery trend.
A place that is already popular with close to 50,000 spectators on the
final day has seen the further such increase, and hence "SUPER GT" is
becoming and exceptional presence among the domestic race.
The popularity of SUPER GT was high from the
earlier days, and until recently lot of people come to see by using the free
tickets issued to the customer by the automaker through the dealer.
It is said that the
“Paddock pass” (Ticket for entering the pit side) for some of the enthusiastic
fan and VIP invitation guests are made as contest, and the sales of the high
priced ticket is also growing in each circuit.
The one that has changed much compared with the previous races is the
car of the spectators.
Some 10 years before the parking lot of the circuit has lot of sports
car attached with aero parts like the "Toyota Supra", "Nissan
Skyline GT-R" and "Honda Integra” etc. In the last few years, the
parking lot is occupied with the eco-friendly car and family car, and coming to
see the race with the dressed up sports car has become a minor group.
The event in which mainly the car lover came, those persons have now become
a family fan, and are enjoying the race as the parent and child. The people who
come to see the race of a good-looking car has increased especially in inverse
proportion even though the number of people showing the interest in cars has
reduced.
Especially, the appearance of the young people in their twenties said as
the generation not being interested in the car stands out.
Earlier, if you say an young person coming to the race, there were lot
of male fans in naughty atmosphere driving the sports car, but recently there
are lot of genuine fans among the youngsters visiting the SUPER GT, and their
manners is also very good.
It is clear that they come as a couple, go around
the exhibition booth together, and enjoy the talk show.
The cause that attracts the small world of car lovers is the presence of
“Itasha” (Itasha in Japanese language means the car painted with anime
characters) which drive in the GT300 class of SUPER GT.The car painted with the “Crush” character of the
anime and game started to appear from the year 2008.
Initially it was the “Itasha GT machine” which handled the temporary or catchpenny articles, and the last few years the number of “Itasha” has suddenly increased because lot of fans who have never visited the circuit are coming now.
The pioneer of “Itasha” was “Hatsune Miku and BMW”, it shined in the series
champion of the GT300 class in 2011, and the “Itasha” has already become indispensable
for SUPER GT.
However, the “Itasha” did not only limit to driving, it also reached the
champion, and this had captivated the interest towards the people who did not
have the interest in the car and race.
The number of people who are charmed with the race driver and team leading
to the victory of “Itasha” are increasing, regardless of the fact that the
driver and the character are linked or not.
Such an activity of Itasha has created an atmosphere
for the young people to visit, and has become one of the important elements of
the race.
Some 10 years before, it would be a rough feeling that the driver will not come even if we participate in the fan service "Pit walk" performed during the lunchtime, but now the team and driver are positively doing the fan service.
This is held after the end of the preliminary contest, at the busy time of
the next day meeting, and the player and team are positively in touch with the
children, and doing the fan service.
Earlier in the GT race, the automobile manufacturers frankly challenged with
the rival mind, and it is not odd to have a tense atmosphere at the pit.
The atmosphere of the team that races for individual results has gradually
changed into "Fight with the fan" attitude, and the positive attitude
in approach of each team towards the fan who comes year after year has increased.
There are lot of pit walk and distributed material in each exhibition
booth, lot of chances to contact and touch the player cheerfully are also provided,
and the feeling of satisfaction of the visiting fan is more than any other
race.
The popular race “NASCAR” has acquired national popularity in the United
States with the positively created atmosphere as the race intended for such a
fan. I feel that the atmosphere in the SUPER GT circuit is closer to this.
The idea of supporting by family and group is
present regardless of who will win, which car is fast, like the race or not.
The atmosphere of SUPER GT is very good in making contact by the fan service,
and enjoying the race.
There are lot of media
that seize the “F1”, the summit of motor sports, but the “SUPER GT” race makes
such a large number of spectators happy.
It is still regrettable that there is less news and information.
F1 is certainly positioned on the top of the pyramid in the motor sports,
and SUPER GT is a race performed with the Japanese specific format and a high-level
race that most of a domestic top driver participate. I think the general media
should share the news and information at least about the mobilization of lot of
spectators.
F1 certainly has the general appeal power, and I am
sure that the SUPER GT is also having the adequate appeal power at present.
The German “BMW”, which is positively involved in the GT300 class from last year, has grasped the chance to be in good form recently, and has given a full-page advertisement related to the SUPER GT in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Japanese business newspaper)
It won the championship in the Fuji round, and published the photograph
of "Hatsune Miku and BMW" accomplishing two successive victories at
the opening season. There were times when the result of such a F1 race was
advertised, but now the participation of Japanese enterprises is less, and
perhaps the promotion using the SUPER GT, rather F1 that is being too far, is
exceptionally a good material
I have to say that the fact is the image of the social or worldly automobile
race is yet to be accepted by the all the citizens.
However, the upsurge of SUPER GT is not limited just by linking the
present “Interest towards the car”, and is becoming the presence that cannot be
simply ignored.
I would like to them to intensify the understanding of the motor race,
and become a major presence in the world.
You can check my previous blog on “SEPER GT” in the below link.
Kindly share your comments on this, and also about the items that you would like to see in this blog.
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