Endurance Carnival 2008 Motegi KART endurance festival "K-TAI" was held in the scorching heat at Twin Ring Motegi. On August 2 (Sat), a 5-hour endurance race with a mission-equipped class took place, with 74 teams on the grid. Although clouds spread in the morning, as the final event started, the sun peeked through the gaps in the clouds, presenting a true midsummer endurance atmosphere.

Starting with a clean rolling start from the formation lap, PUTO, who drew the pole position, was the first to enter Turn 1. Following were #9 to-ten-pole Higuchi No. 2 RT, #32 MACS RACING, #100 Kamonegi Shokai GC, and #36 Firebird. Returning to the home straight in the lead for the opening lap was #9 to-ten-pole Higuchi No. 2 RT, with #59 Garage Chabatake 250, who had surged up from 15th on the grid, in second place, and #8 Higuchi RT Special in third, changing the order.

Riding the momentum, #59 Garage Chabatake 250 marked the fastest lap of the day at 2 minutes 03.788 seconds on the 8th lap after taking the lead, pulling away from the second place and beyond. Behind them, #8 Higuchi RT Special and #77 HARRY RACING were engaged in a close battle.

At the point one hour after the start, [#8 Higuchi RT Special] was in the lead, followed by [#73 RARacing+Garage Chabatake], [#59 Garage Chabatake 250], [#100 Kamonegi Shokai GC], [#58 Middle-aged Biker Gang Still Not Learning Tea], and [#77 HARRY RACING], with six teams on the same lap. However, the battle for the top gradually narrowed due to differences in pit-in timing and fuel efficiency.

At the point of 3 hours elapsed, [#77 HARRY RACING] and [#8 Higuchi RT Special] had completed 74 laps, engaging in a back-and-forth battle. The rivalry between these two teams was also a master-disciple confrontation. Haruo Ooyaka from [#77 HARRY RACING] has a background in British Super Kart and returned to Japan last April, marking his second entry in "K-TAI". Mitsuhiro Endo has been active in All Japan Kart and F3, and is currently participating in Civic Racing. Nobuyuki Takaoka is also competing in regional championships, making this a team of elite drivers. On the other hand, Shoji Miyazaki from [#8 Higuchi RT Special] has been active as a rider in the All Japan Road Race for 2 wheels, making this his first entry in "K-TAI". Both teams were stationed in the same pit, watching over their teammates on the track.

With 1 hour and 17 minutes remaining until the checkered flag, #77 HARRY RACING took the lead during the pit work of #8 Higuchi RT Special, with #8 Higuchi RT Special trailing by about 50 seconds. Both teams continued to lap at almost the same pace. With 53 minutes remaining, #77 HARRY RACING, which was in the lead, made a pit stop. After completing the final refueling, they returned to the track. After #8 Higuchi RT Special finished their final pit work, the gap between the two teams had narrowed to about 34 seconds.

Then, an accident occurs that can be called the highlight of this race. With 17 minutes to go until the checkered flag, a machine spins and remains on the course, bringing out the safety car. As a result, the gap between #77 HARRY RACING and #8 Higuchi RT Special quickly narrows, and when the full course caution is lifted with 8 minutes remaining, the gap between the two teams is just 8.6 seconds.

Although #77 HARRY RACING wanted to escape, they were unable to increase their pace due to mission troubles. On the other hand, #8 Higuchi RT Special, upon spotting their rival, quickly closed the gap. With just one lap to go until the checkered flag, they were completely tail-to-nose, but #77 HARRY RACING managed to hold on and crossed the finish line first. #8 Higuchi RT Special also received the checkered flag with a 0.314-second difference. In the 2008 'K-TAI' mission-equipped class 5-hour race, #77 HARRY RACING and #8 Higuchi RT Special, having completed 121 laps, were awarded the most laps completed prize.

"It was nerve-wracking. In the end, there was a mission trouble, and I couldn't increase my pace. If there had been one more lap, I would have been overtaken. Last year, I was running in second place and faced trouble, so I was able to get my revenge. It was a victory of teamwork," said player Ooyaka from #77 HARRY RACING. "There were troubles along the way, but I was glad to resolve them and reach the finish line. This was my first participation, and I had a lot of fun. Next year, I want to be the first to receive the checkered flag," said player Miyazaki from #8 Higuchi RT Special.

The second best lap count award went to #73 RARacing + Garage Tea Field with 119 laps, and the third best lap count award went to #100 Kamonegi Shokai GC with 118 laps.

The most laps award for the middle displacement category was recorded by #1 Michi Racing and #20 MKS Racing with 111 laps. #20 MKS Racing also received the MVP award.

The most laps award for small displacement was marked by [#24 RKdeCervazaWEST] and [#4 Petit Racing Gr-M] with 104 laps.