F1 Japan Fever: Drivers, Heroes & Followers At Daikoku PA

April 16, 2024

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Opposite to what most F1 workforce social media accounts recommend, when the drivers aren’t racing, it’s not all simply frolicking round vacationer spots and signing autographs.

When F1 was in Japan for the Japanese Grand Prix a few weekends in the past, most groups posted numerous pics of their drivers sporting kimonos, ingesting inexperienced tea or peering by way of dense clouds of cherry blossoms. However one driver was eager to style some genuine Japanese automotive tradition.

I met up with France’s Esteban Ocon and Australia’s Jack Doohan from the BWT Alpine F1 Group at an occasion hosted by Alpine Vehicles Japan. The situation: Metropolis Circuit Tokyo Bay – a new outside electrical kart monitor.

However this wasn’t a karting session. Alpine Japan deliberate to let the boys unfastened in a brand new A110 R, for a pleasant time assault battle.

With Esteban and Jack taking turns on the wheel, the little French coupé ate up the tight kart monitor with ease, pulling by way of corners at a merely horrifying tempo.

Esteban had different press engagements deliberate for the night, so Jack and our small crew of drivers and videographers set off to discover the Wangan expressway earlier than curfew.

“Have the 2 vehicles again by 10:00pm; they’re being transported right down to Suzuka early tomorrow morning,” Alpine Japan mentioned.

Jack didn’t appear to be listening. He already had Google Maps loaded and was busy deciding on some tunes for the drive, beginning with DJ Shadow’s Six Days. The 21-year-old has good style in music.

A shocking variety of followers have adopted Jack, even earlier than his time in F1. Jack’s racing success undoubtedly is available in half from his parental pedigree. These of you into top-tier motorsports of the two-wheel selection will little question be accustomed to his father, Mick Doohan AM.

Having gained 5 consecutive 500cc Motorbike Grand Prix world championships from 1994 to 1998, Mick is likely one of the most celebrated motorbike racers of our time. In 1996, he was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM), a royal honour bestowed on Australian residents to recognise excellent achievements. What was Mick’s weapon of selection on monitor? The legendary Honda NSR500.

Not like his dad, Jack began his racing profession in karts. His first kart was given to him by the Doohan’s then-neighbour Michael Schumacher.

At 15, Jack entered Method 4. At 17, he progressed to Method 3. The subsequent 12 months Method 2, and in 2022 Jack joined the Alpine Academy, a program run by Renault to foster future F1 expertise. Jack frolicked as a check driver for the Alpine A521 F1 automotive till he secured a seat because the reserve driver in 2023.

Getting behind the wheel of an F1 automotive have to be an unimaginable expertise, one thing I’m certain all of us dream we may do. However relating to attainable road vehicles, there is just one in Jack’s crosshairs – the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R.

What higher place to see Godzilla on its residence turf than Daikoku Parking Space?

There have been loads of examples to take a look at on this specific night time, however Chiro-san’s self-modified monster piqued Jack’s curiosity.

It’s not simply vehicles you possibly can spot at Daikoku, although. If you’re fortunate, you would possibly run throughout a celeb.

By some divine coincidence, Hiroshi Tamura – AKA Mr. GTR – had additionally come to Daikoku PA to see what’s new within the tuning world. Tamura-san’s involvement within the tradition absolutely influenced the event of the R35 Nissan GT-R in ways in which corporate-minded engineers couldn’t have.

Jack and Tamura talked about driving dynamics on a degree that most individuals – myself included – couldn’t really comprehend. I snapped away, eavesdropping as greatest I may.