JTCC: Japan's Forgotten Racing Series

In 1994, two new racing series were launched in Japan. One of them was the All Japan Grand Touring Championship, better known as JGTC, and now Super GT. This series went on to become well known around the world, and continues to serve as a testing ground for production car technology. The other series started that year was the Japanese Touring Car Championship, or JTCC. During it's short life, the JTCC included many of Japan's top drivers, including Tsuchiya Keiichi and Hattori Naoki.  From 1994-98 the JTCC grids were home to a number of sedans from both Japanese and European makers. Based on similar racing series in Europe, JTCC grids included FF,FR,and AWD cars. The cars were changed over the years, and many of them were quite impressive.

Honda started off by using EG Civic Ferio sedans, but later switched to the CD Accord sedan with a 290ps naturally aspirated H22A engine.

This is the Mugen Castrol Accord which can be found at Honda's Twin Ring Motegi Collection Hall.

Nissan campaigned both P10 and P11 Primeras as well as Sunny Sedans (Sentra).

This is the Tamiya model kit of the Calsonic P10 Primera. If this car looks familiar, it's the same as an Infiniti G20 in the United States. A JTCC replica G20 would make for an off-the-wall project.

Toyota was represented with front wheel drive Corolla Sedan and Corona EXiV. One of the only rear wheel drive Japanese cars in JTCC was the JZX100 Chaser which was campaigned in 1998.

In 1998, when the other Japanese makes had dropped out of the JTCC, the Chaser took home the series championship. I wonder what became of the JTCC Chasers.

Subaru had a small presence JTCC, but it was an interesting one nonetheless.

The SYMS Impreza Wagon: Probably the coolest ever.

Of course there were non-Japanese cars in JTCC as well. How 'bout the HKS Opel Vectra?

Here is a good video from a 1994 JTCC race at Suzuka.

After four years the auto-makers had re-focused their efforts on JGTC, and 1998 was the final season of the JTCC. When you look at the styling of mid-late '90s touring cars, you can see the origins of the the "tuner" style cars in Southern California and elsewhere. The graphics, large diameter-bright colored wheels, and single windshield wipers could be found on many of the modified compact cars in the early days. I found a great page where you can find a ton of pictures from the JTCC. Although it was short-lived, the Japanese Touring Car Championship was an influential chapter of Japanese motorsport history.

Comments

[Friction Limit]

I didn't do much research, but it looks to me that the Super Taikyu series picked up where JTCC left off. I believe ST started in 2000, just two years after JTCC ended. Do you know of any connection between the two?

I've loved the nostalgic Japanese racing entries. Keep em coming!

[Mike]

Hrm, that's a good question. I didn't really think about the relation to ST, but it does make sense. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for the support as well.

[The Coolest Dude Ever]

That was the coolest fucking race I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EJ25RUN]

you gotta find more stuu like this....espicially that toyota website with all the years of jtcc!

[likethejetsons]

I grew up watching JTCC and BTCC! That was definitely competitive racing to me. World challenge reminds me of JTCC.

[Luc MOZZOLI]

please HELP !

i am looking for all photos of FUJI GRAND CHAMPION AND LONG DISTANCE SERIES from 1974 to 1979 on Fuji Speedway.

specially "elstar"-"tudor" sponsored HRC-Team Cibie ALPINE A 441 car !

thank you, hoping for hearing from you soon.

LM.

[Luc MOZZOLI]

answers for my request to :

mozzoli_luc@yahoo.fr

thanks a lot !

LM.

[Kev]

Great page, I was trying to find out when the Zent Chaser was used in the JTCC and you have that information displayed. I just bought the new Kyosho model of this car, thanks

[Luc Mozzoli]

... VERY ASTONISHED & DISAPPOINTED...

one year today that i asked for simple "japanese" informations, and nobody answered...

see above my question... and let me discover if japanese fans are so good than the european ones about "sport automotive history" !...

thanks, Luc Mozzoli at mozzoli_luc@yahoo.fr

[Eddy]

I remember watching JTCC back in '96, which was undoubtedly the year I became fascinated with import cars more than ever. My favorite, and I'm stoked you listed it above, was the HKS Opel. I loved the HKS-graphic scheme. I thought about doing a replica G20/JTCC Primera, but just somehow never actualized it. Anyway, very cool dedication to the JTCC series!

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thank you, hoping for hearing from you soon.

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Hrm, that's a good question. I didn't really think about the relation to ST, but it does make sense. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for the support as well.