It rained until morning, and the temperature was just over 20 degrees, resulting in a chilly rainy season. However, by the time the official qualifying began, the sky had brightened, and the time attack was conducted under almost dry conditions. Starting this year, the official qualifying will determine the grid based on the combined best times of the A driver and B driver, which will test the abilities of both drivers.

First, the session for Group A (Class 1-4, 1.5CC) will start at 11:30, and Masao Wakabayashi from Class 4 with car #84 SEV ADVAN Elise will set the top time of 2 minutes 18.511 seconds.

The A driver session for Group B (Class 5-9) started with a 5-minute delay to recover the vehicles that stopped in the previous session. First, #104 I Love S2000 took the lead on the leaderboard with a time of 2 minutes 15.304 seconds, but Kyosuke Inomata from #13 GALASSIA WM DC5 snatched the top spot with a time of 2 minutes 14.297 seconds. He then further improved to 2 minutes 14.071 seconds. After that, Manabu Ozawa from #57 Towa Intec Racing DC5 marked a time of 2 minutes 14.673 seconds, moving up to second place, and then he became the first to break into the 2 minutes 13 seconds range with a time of 2 minutes 13.988 seconds, taking the lead. However, with less than 3 minutes remaining, Inomata from #13 GALASSIA WM DC5 reclaimed the top position with a time of 2 minutes 13.620 seconds, and then further improved to 2 minutes 13.390 seconds, showcasing a performance that updated the Course Records.

Returning on time from Group A Driver B's session, we enter the time attack. The top time marked here was by Class 4's #28 Sunspot Dog Marine MR2 driver Shinya Nakamura. The time is 2 minutes 20 seconds 738.

Then the grid is confirmed in Group B Driver's session. First, at around 7 minutes into the start, Masazumi Ohashi in car #14 Mason BRIDEelf EK9 marks a time of 2 minutes 15.378 and takes the top position, but soon Tsubasa Amano in car #13 GALASSIA WM DC5 takes the lead with a time of 2 minutes 15.093. In second place, Yoshinori Nakajima in car #9 BS Nexus EK9 comes up with a time of 2 minutes 15.121. Due to trouble during the A Driver session, he will have to make a comeback from the 89th grid position.

After that, Amano from #13 GALASSIA WM DC5 marked a time of 2 minutes 14.221 seconds. He further reduced his time, but Inoue Keiichi from #847 Dr. Nomuten Hakutai INTEGRA marked a time of 2 minutes 13.986 seconds, finishing this session at the top.

In the combined time of Driver A and Driver B, Class 7's #13 GALASSIA WM DC5 took the top spot with a time of 4 minutes 27 seconds 611, securing pole position.

"All the drivers and staff here are participating in the JOY TAI for the first time. It just so happened that I had a DC5, so I thought I would enter the JOY TAI as well. For the first stint, I plan to escape, but it's difficult due to the pit stop duration, so it's all about how much fuel efficiency I can gain. I'm glad I was able to secure pole position. I'm going to enjoy it!" said Inomata.

In second place, the Class 7 #847 Dr. Nomuten Hakon INTEGRA clocked in at 4 minutes 30.905 seconds, followed by the Class 9 leader #31 Hasepro Lancer EVO8 in third place at 4 minutes 31.866 seconds. The top of Class 6 is the overall fifth place #14 Mason BRIDE elf EK9, the top of Class 8 is the overall sixth place #104 I Love S2000, and the top of Class 5 is the overall seventh place #95 SSS Civic, with the leading teams in their respective classes lined up.

This time, the course records were updated in Class 1, 7, 8, and 9. It seems that the cloudy sky also contributed to the surface temperature not rising too much. After completing the official qualifying and free practice, only the Sunday 'JOY TAI' 7-hour endurance race remains. How to compete in the 'JOY TAI' where speed alone is not enough to win? And how to enjoy it? These are important elements in 'JOY TAI'. Let's all have fun aiming for the checkered flag 7 hours ahead!