Racing Debut of Rookie Team, Captured through a Lens

In the heart of Oita Prefecture, Japan, the Autopolis International Racing Course played host to the final race of the 2020 Super Taikyu Series. This event marked a significant milestone for ROOKIE Racing, a team renowned for their relentless pursuit of performance.

The race commenced at 10:40 a.m., with Masahiro Sasaki behind the wheel of the GR Yaris and Daisuke Toyoda driving the GR Supra. Akio Toyoda, better known as "Morizo," took the reins for the latter stages of the race.

Morizo demonstrated deft pace control throughout the five-hour endurance race, ensuring the GR Yaris and GR Supra lined up just in time for the final lap. Despite the increased risk, Morizo was asked to maintain his speed to secure an ideal photographic opportunity, allowing other cars to pass more frequently.

Noriaki Mitsuhashi, ROOKIE Racing's exclusive photographer, was on hand to capture the action. His mission was to immortalise a symbolic moment of ROOKIE Racing's journey in 2020, specifically the checkered-flag scene. Mitsuhashi's efforts paid off, as he managed to capture the best photo-taking opportunity at the end of Round 5, with the GR Yaris and GR Supra crossing the finish line together.

The GR Yaris completed 140 laps without incident during the race, while its counterpart, the GR Supra, completed 142 laps problem-free. This tenacity paid off, as the GR Yaris-Car No. 32-and drivers Takuto Iguchi, Masahiro Sasaki, and Morizo won the championship in the ST-2 class (4WD vehicles with a maximum engine displacement of 3,500 cc).

ROOKIE Racing's success in 2020 was particularly noteworthy given their struggles in 2019, where they faced major accidents in three out of five races. However, this year, they managed to overcome these challenges and emerge victorious.

Morizo emphasised the importance of the team being both a team and a family during a morning assembly at Autopolis. This camaraderie was evident, as Morizo even hand-delivered a birthday cake to a ROOKIE Racing staff member during the weekend at Autopolis.

The team's dedication to pushing every element of their cars to the limit in an incessant quest for continuous improvement was once again on display at Autopolis. With their victory in the 2020 Super Taikyu Series, ROOKIE Racing continues to set the standard for racing excellence.