Blancpain GT Series Asia Round 7 & Round 8 @ Fuji Speedway Part 1: Day 1 Porsche Team Lounge

I went to see "Blancpain GT Series ASIA Races 7-8 (Blancpain GT Series Asia Round 7 & Round 8)" held at Fuji Speedway from Saturday, July 21st to Sunday, July 22nd, 2018. I'm here!

On the first day, Saturday, July 21, my husband had a job, so I took only my eldest son and headed to Fuji Speedway without my husband for the first time.

It's still really fun to run on 911! After getting off the highway, I've been running with Mr. Aka Z here. I've come across a variety of other cars, but that's not the case.

I didn't have any problems until I arrived at Fuji Speedway, but it seems that I usually entered from the west gate, but I didn't know anything, so I went to the east gate as guided by the navigation system. I haven't noticed that the gate is different from usual at this point (laughs).

And although it's okay to enter, there is no sign saying where to go, so let's go to the paddock for the time being. Please do it ~ "and will be repelled (laughs). This time, I could not enter the paddock with the Porsche pass ... (By the way, Lamborghini had a paddock pass. As expected! → The participation fee is about 3 times that of this Porsche in the first place).

However, I don't want to be driven back, so when I asked the guards, "I came to watch the race, where should I stop?" So I went there.

however! It's okay to arrive, but it's full of "feeling that it's definitely not here", so I didn't know what to do anymore, so I cried to the Porsche sales person and called (laughs).

I asked them to tell me where to go, and finally they picked me up at my place in Macan, led me to the nearest parking lot, and then sent me to the paddock in Macan as it was. Gave me.

It really helped me (tears) ... I think I would have gone home and went to the outlets in Gotemba without him. Really, the salesman who helped me wander around in the large and empty FSW parking lot seemed like a lifesaver (laughs)! !! Thank you ~.

However, as a result, I wandered around the FSW by myself, lost my way, and finally got the sales person to lead me, or took me to another place in the FSW (at other times). I was asked to do so, and I was able to get a rough idea of the Fuji Speedway, so I think I'll be able to come by myself from the next time onwards!

I felt like I already knew about the FSW building, but I didn't know anything about the overall feeling until I got to the building. This time, I got a little sense of the whole thing, so I feel like I've improved a little (laughs).

First, go to Fuji Speedway's Crystal Room @ Porsche

After receiving it, I will head to the Crystal Room (the place where you can see the front of the home straight from the room on the 2nd floor & the TV is installed in the room so that you can watch the race through it).

Since I applied for Porsche this time, I will head to the room with the crystal room number assigned to Porsche. The photo is the crystal room seen from the pit road. It's like a jagged glass.

On the first day, I headed for FSW leisurely, so I arrived already after noon. At the Crystal Room, a talk show by the Porsche team driver Yamano brothers was being held this time, but at this time, the room seemed to be quite full.

I heard later that about 100 people came to watch the game on this first day (only via Porsche's application for Porsche support).

There was a simple shop selling goods in the room, next to it was a message to the Yamano brothers who are running as Porsche's team this time, drinks, light meals & sweets etc. There was a table lined up with the stance of "please take it freely".

This cheering message was also used when taking group photos. No, EBI Marketing, who is planning this watching tour, really likes group photos, and how many times have he taken group photos in just these two days (laughs)?

The other participants also said, "I've taken many times, right?", And I really had many opportunities for group photos (laughs). It doesn't matter at all, but if you take a picture, you'll want it ...

This is where the light meals in the crystal room are placed.

After all, I was a little surprised that for Porsche, the whole event was quite surprisingly loose ... (laughs), Last rally eventHowever, there are times when I compared it with the fact that it was prepared properly in every scene, but something like this "I can use the crystal room freely for the time being, so please spend the rest as you like." Abandoned ... (laughs).

Well, I don't think it's comparable, but it was done at the same place just about a month ago.Ferrari Racing DaysAfter all, I just compared it as an experience, and while lunch at Ferrari was like eating with a fork and knife while sitting, this time Porsche's crystal room is a magic handwritten on A4 paper on the wall. Please take your lunch from here ↓ ”, and the lunch boxes are piled up underneath, and I feel like I should take it without permission (laughs).

I will also release the lunch box.

No, I'm not saying I wanted to eat with a fork and knife. I had a lot of delicious bread when I wanted to, and I was happy to have them, and I also love this kind of casualness, so I was very comfortable ... But, just because of this looseness. I was surprised. In a very good sense, I felt that the existence of Porsche became closer again (laugh).

Rather, I understand that the participants this time are not just "customers" but "companies who support the team together". Certainly there is something to support together, and whether it is staff or customers, we support it together, and the sense of fellowship and unity was good. That's why I think this freedom was good again.

There are many Pirelli tires, which are the official tires of Blancpain GT.

For the time being, let me relax a little, and then take a walk around to see other teams. Whenever I come to the circuit, I see a tremendous number of tires.

When it comes to racing and circuit driving, it's a matter of course, but for me, who is usually in a car, it's difficult to understand the situation where you have to change tires like this at first. did. ← It's an old story that I haven't watched a race yet.

There are many huge Pirelli cars in the paddock. All the tires of Blancpain GT are Pirelli.

There was even an office, and there were many overseas staff. Where on earth are you all coming from? !!

By the way, if you continue walking from the Porsche grid toward the control tower, you can see various teams such as the BMW team. * Of course, you cannot put it inside.

This is Car Guy's team that I secretly supported in addition to Porsche this time.

I've been watching Car Guy's activities only through SNS etc., but I thought it would be nice, so I'm secretly (laughing) cheering (Porsche team is cheering proudly). ↓ This is Car Guy's car.

However, I heard later that Mr. Kimura of Car Guy had previously come to the Porsche event as a cheerleader (a cheerleader of the Excellence Porsche Team KTR at the 2016 Super GT) when participating in the Porsche race. , It seems that there was a connection.

The One Make Race Festival 2018 FUJI Summer Scheduled for Saturday, July 21, 2018

By the way, and first of all, the schedule for Saturday, July 21, 2018 is as follows. Actually, there are so many different races. I never thought I could see the Vitz race.

Among them, the support events related to Porsche are as follows.

In this way, if you concentrate on supporting the Porsche team at this Blancpain GT Asia, you could move on a relatively laid-back schedule, but I also want to watch various other races! When it came to that, I felt that it would be quite a hassle.

For the time being, on the first day, I had to watch the children alone, so I spent my time relaxing in the crystal room, devoting myself to the support of the basic Porsche team. comfortable.

On the way, I took my eldest son, who was getting tired of it, to a shop in the cafeteria Orizuru. (I don't buy it) When I was wondering which of the minicars to choose, McLaren was worried and chose "I want this", P1. Well, maybe the sensibilities are similar. I was happy (laughs).

On the way back, I also encountered the TOYOTA Gazoo racing character "Rookie-chan". An insanely hot hug in the dying hot sun. The people involved in Gazoo Racing were also impressed with the embrace, and I received a sticker (laughs). I pray that Rookie didn't suffer from heat stroke ...

Next, let's continue with the pit tour and grid walk!

Rika (911supercars.com)

I'm Rika, the author of this article. Ever since Porsche 911 became my favorite car, I've become totally addicted to Porsche, and I can't stop loving Porsche, so I started this blog. My favorite cars are 911 Carrera (991.2), 911 Carrera Cabriolet (992.1), and 911 Carrera T (992.1).