On 21 October 2024, ahead of the FIA World Rally Championship Forum8 Rally Japan 2024, the ‘FORUM8 Rally Japan Metaverse 2024’ was launched. This will allow users to experience the Toyota Stadium SSS and Service Park in the metaverse (a virtual 3D space).
This year, with a focus on kids, various contents have been prepared in the metaverse using the ‘F8VPS’ metaverse platform provided by FORUM8, the title partner of this event, as a place where people who don’t know much about rallying, people who don’t know the rules, and people from all over the country who want to liven up rallying can have fun learning about rallying.
In concrete terms, in addition to the upgrade of the zone where visitors can experience the Toyota Stadium SSS course from the driver’s perspective, which was also open to the public last year, there is also a zone where visitors can see the service park, a zone where visitors can tour the tourist attractions and local products of the six local governments involved, and a game where visitors can create their own original rally cars by combining parts, as well as a virtual rally classroom, making this year’s event even more substantial than last year’s.
Furthermore, this is the first programme of its kind in the world, as there are no other countries that have used metaverse technology to promote rallying.
■Opening date and time: Monday, 21 October 2024, 12:00
■How to enter: Enter via the URL below or the dedicated banner on the Rally Japan website.
https://rally-japan-2024.f8vps.jp
■Participation fee: Free of charge
Toyota Stadium SSS
This is content that allows you to experience the FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024 Toyota Stadium SSS in the metaverse by sitting in the co-driver’s seat. You can choose drivers from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT, HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WRT, and M-SPORT FORD WRT.
Service Park
Content that allows you to enjoy the Service Park of FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024 in the metaverse. During the event, you can also watch real-time footage of the actual Service Park.
Local Government Area
Booths that recreate the tourist attractions and local specialities of the six cities and towns that make up the competition course for the FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024. You can experience things like interacting with mascot characters and learning about local specialities.
SHOP・Partner Park (Area opens at 9:00 on Friday 1st November)
In addition to selling official FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024 merchandise, this is a booth where we will introduce our event partners.
Rally Car Collection (Area opens at 9:00 on Thursday 21st November)
This is a game corner where you can create your own original rally car by combining body parts and custom parts in various colours. By visiting the ‘FORUM8 Rally Japan Metaverse 2024’ booth, the real-life spectator area and service park during the competition, you can obtain limited colourings and custom parts ‘Parts NFTs’*, and by combining these parts you can create your very own original rally car. In addition, the completed rally car can be collected and displayed in the metaverse, and it can also be deployed on the open NFT market through Metamask (software wallet that can store tokens). (*) NFT = Non-Fungible Token A token that cannot be replaced. NFTs utilise a technology called blockchain, which makes it difficult to forge or tamper with, and can give digital data its own unique value.
Virtual Rally Classroom
A rally school on the metaverse for elementary and junior high school students from all over the country who have applied in advance. Comedian Pakkun Makkun will be the facilitator, and the guests will be speed skating medalist and rally driver Hiroyasu Shimizu, and female co-driver Momo Tsukishima, who will join the children to have fun learning about rallying.
■Date and time: 27 October 2024 (Sun) 1st session 14:00–14:40 2nd session 15:30–16:10
■Eligibility: Elementary and junior high school students nationwide (those who can participate using a PC, tablet PC or smartphone, etc.)
■Number of participants: 40 per session (planned)
