The Mote Gai Enjoy Endurance Race "JOY TAI," which started with the aim of being the most enjoyable endurance race in Japan, is celebrating its 18th edition this year. A total of 11 classes have been established to allow various vehicles to participate. Moreover, to ensure that vehicles of any displacement can compete for the overall victory, minimum stay times during pit stops are set for each class, making it as equal as possible even with different participating vehicles. This has garnered overwhelming support since the first year of the event.

The official qualifiers were held on June 30 (Sat), when the end of the rainy season was declared earlier than usual, resulting in a summer-like climate with a clear blue sky and scorching sun. The following day, July 1 (Sun), which was the final day, also enjoyed good weather, and participants preparing for the finals, along with spectators who came to cheer them on, flocked to the paddock at Twin Ring Motegi from the morning. A large crowd gathered for the grid walk that started after 9 AM, filled with the excitement of those eager to enjoy the long 7-hour race that was about to begin.

The final start was at exactly 10:00 AM. A total of 78 entrants were divided into two groups, Group 1 and Group 2, and the 18th "JOY TAI" began with a rolling start. The first to dive into the first corner was the #1 MP Racing Nils R, which started from pole position. Following closely were the #246 Yuki&Obocchama's DC5 and #260 Honda Challenge FK2, who continued to battle fiercely for the top positions after exiting the second corner. The opening lap was won by the #246 Yuki&Obocchama's DC5. Following them were the #1 MP Racing Nils R, #260 Honda Challenge FK2, #20 M-Racing S2000, #84 SEV・ADVAN・2-11, and #57 Towa Intec Racing DC5.

[#246 Yuki&Obocchama's DC5] recorded a 2:16.911 on the 2nd lap and tried to pull away, but [#57 Towa Intec Racing DC5], chasing from behind, gradually closed the gap. As attention focused on the battle between these two cars, the first major move came from [#246 Yuki&Obocchama's DC5]. On the 5th lap, 12 minutes after the start, they pitted early for refueling. As a result, [#57 Towa Intec Racing DC5] smoothly took the lead, but they were forced to make an emergency pit stop on the 7th lap due to trouble.
After that, #1 MP Racing Nils R regained the lead but headed for refueling on the 12th lap. The lead changed hands repeatedly as each team made pit stops, with #864 PULSESTAR’S DC5 leading until the 15th lap and #84 SEV・ADVAN・2-11 until the 22nd lap. At the 25th lap, marking one hour into the race, #87 Sunspot Racing Civic was leading the pack. Ultimately, the slowest pit stop among the top contenders was made by #7 FUCHSwm Versus FIT, which occurred 1 hour and 44 minutes after the start.

At the 2-hour mark, #90 K2 Garage Civic was in the lead with 45 laps. In second place was #6 versus racing Brain Express, followed by #9 Fukuso NS Potenza WMSPMFK in third, #19 Shiooka SP Sunoco ACRE Levin in fourth, and #77 WINIX★CIVIC in fifth, with these five cars continuing to run on the same lap as the leader. Additionally, at the 4-hour mark, the leader #9 Fukuso NS Potenza WMSPMFK and second place #75 ACELINES137EG6 had completed 89 laps. In third place and beyond, the four cars #250 Nikko Endless FIT, #63 MVSEEKERK+UPFIT, #26 Endless Advent Trust Vi, and #62 G/M☆SSR☆WM☆FIT were all running on the same lap with 88 laps completed.

With just 1 hour to go until the checker, at the 5 hour and 56 minute mark, the same teams of #7 FUCHSwm Versus FIT, which has executed a 3-stop refueling strategy, and #6 versus racing Brain Express, which has executed a 4-stop refueling strategy, have established a one-two position. The difference in the number of refuels significantly impacts the lap times in the final stages, drawing attention to the battle between #7 FUCHSwm Versus FIT, which is forced to run at a fuel-efficient pace in the 2-minute 30-second range, and #6 versus racing Brain Express, which continues to run at a pace approximately 3 seconds faster.

The significant movement occurred at the 90-degree corner on the 134th lap, 6 hours and 10 minutes into the race. Here, #6 versus racing Brain Express finally rose to the top, continuing to lap in the 2-minute 27-second range. In 2nd place was #37 FUCHSwm Versus FIT. In 3rd place was #813 JWAVE Kanto Mazda RSBS, which rose to 3rd on the 133rd lap, followed by #9 FukuSo NS Potenza WMSPMFK in 4th place. In 5th place was #75 ACELINES137EG6, the only one among the top runners continuing to run in the 2-minute 23-second range, leading to an exciting development that could only be seen in the JOY TAI, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats until the end.

With 45 minutes remaining until the finish, the leader #6 versus racing BrainExpress, followed by #813 JWAVE Kanto Mazda RSBS and #75 ACELINES137EG6, continued to complete laps while leaving their final driver change. Moreover, #75 ACELINES137EG6 recorded a team-best lap of 2 minutes 21.935 seconds in the final stages, completing laps at a faster pace than other teams. As a result, the first to make a move for a driver change among the top contenders was #6 versus racing BrainExpress. With 25 minutes left, they entered the pits on lap 144, and #813 JWAVE Kanto Mazda RSBS also pitted on the same lap. #6 versus racing BrainExpress returned while still in the lead, but the determined run of #75 ACELINES137EG6 saw them finally rise to the top on lap 146, widening the time gap and keeping their hopes for victory alive, before entering the pits on lap 149 for the final driver change.

#6 versus racing Brain Express, which regained the top position, continued to lap around the 2 minute 30 second mark. Meanwhile, #75 ACELINES137EG6 was desperately chasing, but no matter how much they reduced the time gap each lap, a dramatic comeback within the limited 7-hour timeframe was impossible. As a result, #6 versus racing Brain Express completed 154 laps and won the 18th "JOY TAI."
Tetsuo Sano, who served as the checkered flag driver, commented, "This was my fifth challenge with the FIT this year. In the past, I had twice achieved a 3rd place podium finish, but I had a strong desire to win. We took on different strategies within the same team, with 3-stop and 4-stop refueling plans, but since we wanted to focus on speed and aim for victory, we decided to race with the 4-stop strategy. This result is the fruit of the efforts of the three drivers and all the team staff. Next year, as the defending champions, we want to aim for consecutive wins!"

In 2nd place overall, #75 ACELINES137EG created a tense atmosphere until the end and also achieved victory in Class 5. #9 Fukuso NS Potenza WMSPMFK finished in 3rd place.

Ultimately, in 2016 and 2017, it became a clean 7 hours without a single safety car for three consecutive years. The fact that such a record is achieved in this "JOY TAI," which is open to participants from beginners to top drivers, is proof that all participants have solid rules, manners, and skills. Moreover, the difficulty of balancing speed and fuel efficiency has undoubtedly been proven to be an element that keeps the 7-hour battle enjoyable until the very end. It is certain that those captivated by the charm of this "JOY TAI" will continue to enhance this event next year.