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Motorsport track in Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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".
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| Location | Mimasaka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 |
| Coordinates | 34°54′54″N 134°13′16″E |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Owner | Aska Corporation (March 2012–present) Unimat Corporation (April 2004–March 2012) Tanaka International (November 1990–April 2004) |
| Broke ground | 1989 |
| Opened | 18 November 1990 |
| Former names | TI Circuit Aida (November 1990–April 2005) |
| Major events | Current: Super GT (1999–2019, 2021–present) GT World Challenge Asia (2022–present) Japan Cup Series (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) |
| Website | http://www.okayama-international-circuit.jp/ |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1990–present) | |
| Length | 3.703 km (2.300 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:14.023 ( Michael Schumacher, Benetton B194, 1994, F1) |
| Motorcycle Circuit (2020–present) | |
| Length | 3.747 km (2.328 miles) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 1:29.889 ( Yuki Okamoto, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2024, SBK) |
| Piper Circuit (1990–present) | |
| Length | 1.956 km (1.221 miles) |
| Turns | 8 |
As well as hosting racing events, the circuit has rental facilities including bikes and go karts available.
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]
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 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Okayama International Circuit are listed as:
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