On June 28, the Forum8 Rally Japan 2023 Commission (Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture) held a PR event for Rally Japan 2023 in Nagoya City, which will be held in approximately five months time.
At the beginning of the event, Mr. Toshihiko Ota, Chairman of the Commission, expressed his enthusiasm for the rally, saying, “Under the slogan ‘ENJOY! RALLY JAPAN,’ we would like to work together with fans, teams, the host city and towns to make the rally an enjoyable experience for all.” The outline of the 2023 event was announced and is based on the four concepts of “WITH FANS”, “WITH TEAMS”, “WITH HOST TOWNS” and “WITH EARTH” (creating an environmentally friendly event).
Regarding the first concept, “WITH FANS”, he expressed a desire to create a more exciting rally for more fans. Expressing a desire to make the event even more entertaining, a graphic image of the spectacular dual SS (Special Stage) to be held at Toyota Stadium, the centerpiece of this year’s event, was unveiled. In response to last year’s version, which sold out immediately after tickets went on sale, it was also announced that this year’s will have approximately 35,000 spectator seats at Toyota Stadium, and that the SS will be held for three consecutive days starting on November 16, the first day of the event, to cater to even more fans.
He also outlined the course consisting of 22 Special Stages, which will take contestants through the wonderful and unique landscapes of Japan’s countryside, which was a big hit last year with viewers from around the globe. It includes newly established SS in Okazaki Central Park and Okazaki City, as well as the mountain corridor SSs, the Isegami Tunnel and the Jin Junction, which are highlights of Rally Japan.
In explaining the second concept, “WITH TEAMS,” he presented a video introducing drivers Neuville (Hyundai), Tänak (Ford), and Rovanperä (Toyota), as well as Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta, who finished on the podium in 3rd place last year. He expressed his intentions, stating, “We will host the teams with the type of hospitality that is unique to Japan so that the competitors will be able to demonstrate their full potential as athletes.” (Video: https://youtu.be/dyW266Am7YE )
Regarding the third concept, “WITH HOST TOWNS,” in response to the fact that this year’s rally will be hosted by the local governments, he said, “We want to make sure that the local communities of Aichi and Gifu get excited about the rally.” Specifically, he described how there will be rally classes held at local elementary schools to convey the appeal of the sport to children, and local TV announcers would also join the Rally Japan “cheering squad” to support the tournament. This year, Rally Japan will also be promoted at summer festivals in the host cities and towns to convey its appeal. Finally, as a surprise plan, he also announced that a demo run event is being considered for mid-August in Tokyo.
Regarding the fourth point, “WITH EARTH,” the rally aims to be “environmentally friendly and sustainable” precisely because it is a rally that runs on public roads throughout beautiful mountain villages and conveys the charm of the region. Rally Japan has already been awarded two stars under the FIA’s environmental certification program, and this year’s rally aims to achieve the highest rank of three stars. As one of the concrete measures to achieve this goal, the SS and service park operations at Toyota Stadium will take on the challenge of actively utilizing renewable energy, centering on locally produced solar and hydrogen power supplies. Toyota City has been promoting the installation of solar power generation systems in public facilities since the year 2000. Toyota City is also home to Toyota Motor Corporation, and both parties expressed their enthusiasm for joining forces to take on the challenge of managing a new convention with an eye toward a carbon-neutral society.
The greeting concluded with the introduction of the convention partners supporting the rally.
A talk show was then held with rally drivers Norihiko Katsuta, Madoka Umemoto, and Vice Chairman Takane Kosaka, in addition to Chairman Ota. During the talk show, Norihiko Katsuta relayed information about Takamoto Katsuta, and also talked about the highlights of Rally Japan, especially the enjoyment of rallying through Japan’s pristine landscapes, and the appeal of the event, especially during the autumn leaf season. He also spoke about the importance of the role played by the mountains and forests, especially in Toyota City, where approximately 70% of the land is covered by them. Vice Chairman Kosaka introduced some of the highlights of the rally, including the splendor of the Iwamura Liaison and old Japanese towns, and the thrill of being close to the local people. Madoka Umemoto also gave a delightful talk on local delicacies such as “Gohei-mochi” rice cakes. Chairman Ota explained how they would utilize Toyota Stadium to its full potential this year aiming to expand the scope of the WRC, as well as convey the power and appeal of the dual SS at Toyota Stadium, the highlight of this year’s rally. Finally, they concluded by expressing their wish that more and more people would learn about the appeal of rallying as a sport, with safety and security as the top priorities.
After that, this year’s cheerleading supporters, formed by announcers from five local TV stations, were introduced. The supporters from each station expressed the appeal of Rally Japan, along with their aspirations and enthusiasm for the upcoming event.
