The endurance race known as 'JOY TAI', which is loved for bringing together various vehicles for everyone to enjoy, is celebrating its 18th event this year, with the qualifying round held on June 30.

The Kanto region welcomed the end of the rainy season the day before, and on the day of the qualifying rounds, we were blessed with good weather from the morning. The contrast of the summer-like blue sky and the flowing white clouds created an atmosphere that was already in the midst of summer, making it a qualifying round fitting for this race, which has become established as a summer festival event, with the scorching sun and the smell of hot asphalt wafting through the air.

The official qualifying starts with Group A of Driver A (Class 1, 2, 3, FIT 1.5). In this group, around 13 minutes after the start of the session, Kenji Kashiwakura in car #81 Pop G Kurihara Tein EP82YH marked a time of 2 minutes 22.720 seconds. He surpassed Yosuke Morishita in car #6 versus racing Brain Express, who had been in the lead until then, by a margin of 0.963 seconds, taking the top spot in this group.

By the time the A Driver B Group (Class 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) began, the temperature was over 30 degrees, and the track temperature was over 50 degrees, creating challenging conditions for racing. However, due to the larger displacement vehicles running compared to Group A, the qualifying times improved. Among them, Yuichi Yokoo from #1 MP Racing Nils R marked a top time of 2 minutes 14.685 in just 4 laps. In second place was Yuki Nakajima from #246 Yuki & Obocchama's DC5 with a time of 2 minutes 15.515, followed by Tetsuaki Mochizuki from #260 Honda Challenge FK2 in third with 2 minutes 16.439, and in fourth was Morio Wakabayashi from #84 SEV・ADVAN・2-11 with a time of 2 minutes 17.320.

The qualifying for Group A of B drivers starts at 14:25. In this group, Tsubasa Meikaru from #6 versus racing Brain Express recorded the top time of 2 minutes 23.922 seconds, having just secured second place earlier. Following him is Shigeo Takenoya from #81 Pop G Kurihara Tein EP82YH with a time of 2 minutes 24.036 seconds, making a comeback against the results of Group A drivers.

In the final qualifying session for Group B of the B drivers, former Super GT champion Masami Kageyama, competing for #1 MP Racing Nils R, took to the track. With just 10 minutes remaining, he entered the course and recorded an impressive time of 2 minutes 11.671 in a single lap time attack, securing the top time. He finished with a remarkable gap of 5.428 seconds ahead of the second-place driver, Koji Matsubara from #20 M-Racing S2000, showcasing his skills as a former top driver.

In this "JOY TAI", the final grid is determined by the combined times of drivers A and B. As a result, this year's pole position was secured by the #1 MP Racing Nils R with a time of 4 minutes 26.356 seconds.
"I was able to adjust my schedule, so I decided to challenge the 'JOY TAI' for the first time. Since the opening of Twin Ring Motegi, I have raced on this course in various categories, so I have many memories here. Recently, I have also participated in endurance races at various events while taking driving lessons, but I think this 'JOY TAI' is a wonderful race that everyone can enjoy. Additionally, the course layout is a typical stop-and-go, making it a great course to learn the basics of driving on a circuit. This time, I will challenge myself to see how far I can go by pushing hard, so I appreciate your support." This was said by Masami Kageyama, who recorded the Class 10 course record with just one lap in his first challenge at "JOY TAI."

The second qualifier was the #260 Honda Challenge FK2, recording a time of 4 minutes 33.543 seconds. The third was the #246 Yuki and Obocchama's DC5, with a time of 4 minutes 33.931 seconds, just 0.4 seconds behind. In fourth place was the #20 M-Racing S2000 with a time of 4 minutes 35.213 seconds, followed by the #87 Sunspot Racing Civic in fifth with 4 minutes 35.880 seconds, the #84 SEV ADVAN 2-11 in sixth with 4 minutes 35.981 seconds, and the #999 FukuSo Anyhouse BSWMSPMFK in seventh with 4 minutes 37.212 seconds.

Tomorrow, the weather forecast for Utsunomiya on Sunday is sunny becoming cloudy. The maximum temperature is expected to be 34 degrees, promising summer-like weather just like the qualifying day. Endurance racing is synonymous with the summer festival of motorsports. Among them, the "JOY TAI," where various vehicles participate and the outcome is determined by the balance of speed and fuel efficiency, is an event that is enjoyable not only for participants but also for spectators. The final race starts at 10 AM. Which team will win the 18th "JOY TAI"?