TI Circuit
Encyclopedia
The Okayama International Circuit (formerly known as TI Circuit Aida) is a 2.301 miles (3.7 km) private motorsport
race track in Mimasaka
, Okayama Prefecture
, Japan
. TI is abbreviation of "Tanaka International" after the name of the holding company
, though the name of the circuit was officially "TI Circuit Aida".
The course was built in 1992 as a private race track for the wealthy. Soon, it hosted its first race, staged by veteran British
drivers (which explains the circuit's corner names, such as Hobbs and Attwood
).
In and , the TI Circuit hosted the Formula One
Pacific Grand Prix
; both events were won by Michael Schumacher
in his early title-winning years. This race made Japan one of only six countries to ever host more than one Formula One
event in the same year. It was discontinued primarily due to its location in a remote area of Japan
.
In March, 2003, "TI Circuit Company" was transferred from "Tanaka International Company" to Unimat Holding Co., Ltd. http://www.unimat.co.jp/. Thus, the owner of the circuit was renamed Okayama International Circuit Co., Ltd. on May 1, 2004 and the name of the circuit was changed from "TI Circuit Aida" to "Okayama International Circuit" on January 1, 2005.
On October 26, 2008, the circuit hosted a round of the Formula V6 Asia
and FIA World Touring Car Championship
. The WTCC
race was the first world championship FIA race since 1995. However, it was announced on June 21, 2010 that Suzuka Circuit
would host the Japan round of the 2011 WTCC
season instead of the Okayama International Circuit.
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
race track in Mimasaka
Mimasaka, Okayama
is a city located in Okayama, Japan.It is the result of a merger involving the former town of the same name. The merger took place on March 31, 2005 when the town of Katsuta from Katsuta District, the towns of Aida, Ōhara and Sakutō, and the village Higashiawakura, all from Aida District, were...
, Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. TI is abbreviation of "Tanaka International" after the name of the holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
, though the name of the circuit was officially "TI Circuit Aida".
The course was built in 1992 as a private race track for the wealthy. Soon, it hosted its first race, staged by veteran British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
drivers (which explains the circuit's corner names, such as Hobbs and Attwood
Richard Attwood
Richard James David "Dickie" Attwood is a British former motor racing driver. During his career he raced for the BRM, Lotus and Cooper Formula One teams. In his whole F1 career he achieved one podium and scored a total of 11 championship points...
).
In and , the TI Circuit hosted the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Pacific Grand Prix
Pacific Grand Prix
The Pacific Grand Prix was a round of the Formula One World Championship twice in the mid-1990s. Both races were held at the Tanaka International Aida circuit , a slow, twisty 2.3-mile track deep in the countryside in Aida , Japan...
; both events were won by Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
in his early title-winning years. This race made Japan one of only six countries to ever host more than one Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
event in the same year. It was discontinued primarily due to its location in a remote area of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
In March, 2003, "TI Circuit Company" was transferred from "Tanaka International Company" to Unimat Holding Co., Ltd. http://www.unimat.co.jp/. Thus, the owner of the circuit was renamed Okayama International Circuit Co., Ltd. on May 1, 2004 and the name of the circuit was changed from "TI Circuit Aida" to "Okayama International Circuit" on January 1, 2005.
On October 26, 2008, the circuit hosted a round of the Formula V6 Asia
Formula V6 Asia
Formula Asia V6 Renault, renamed Formula V6 Asia in 2007 by Motorsport Asia, was launched in 2006 and regulated by Motorsport Asia. It was a Formula Renault 3.5 that include also World Series by Renault and the former Formula Renault V6 Eurocup....
and FIA World Touring Car Championship
2008 World Touring Car Championship season
The 2008 World Touring Car Championship season was the fifth World Touring Car Championship season, the fourth since its 2005 return. It began on March 2, and ended on November 16, after twenty-four races...
. The WTCC
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
race was the first world championship FIA race since 1995. However, it was announced on June 21, 2010 that Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
would host the Japan round of the 2011 WTCC
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
season instead of the Okayama International Circuit.