- 2015/04/19
After Fierce Battle Between 2 New Stars Tsutsumi Comes Out on Top
The opening round for the Roadster Party Race II was carried out as part of the Mazda Fan Tohoku Meeting held on April 12th (Sun) at Sports Land SUGO where 18 NB and NC Roadsters competed for first round glory. Gaining particular attention in the race were the two novices Yui Tsutsumi and Tsuyoshi Umeda.
When all the entrants gathered in the pits there were many comments like, “Hey I’m glad you’re out again this year! Let’s both do our best, yeah?” An incredibly friendly atmosphere could be felt within the group.
The 8-lap race started at 1:00pm. Starting from 3rd on the grid, #12 Umeda leapt up to overtake pole sitter #27 Tsutsumi and be running 2nd behind #123 Izumi, who had managed to grapple the lead. After this, Umeda began a braking battle and made his way through #123 Izumi’s inline at the final corner to rise to the front of the pack. At lap 7 #123 Izumi was forced to hit the brakes to avoid a collision with #12 Umeda, who was caught on the outside during a 3-car battle for position. This allowed #27 Tsutsumi to rise up to 2nd and begin a fierce pursuit of #12 Umeda, visibly reducing the almost 1-second margin he had been building up in the lead. By the last section heading towards the last corner of the final lap, he was bumper to bumper with #12 Umeda and waiting for a chance to make his move. Entering into his slip stream then moving up at the final straight, the two were side-by-side, and an edge-of-your-seat battle unfolded for victory. With the entire venue’s eyes glued to the race, #27 Tsutsumi managed to grab the win with a mere 0.04 second margin.
After the race Tsutsumi, also a Formula racer, coolly stated, “I thought that if I could just break through the stalemate of the battle for 2nd I had more than enough chance to take victory. I broke out of the pack at lap 7 to rise to 2nd and decided to make my move at the last lap of the final corner. I carefully watched how Umeda was driving and felt that I was faster in the section heading towards the final corner. I thought if I could enter his slipstream there I had more than enough chance to overtake him.” On the other hand, Umeda also calmly analysed his own performance, saying, “when practicing I felt that I was having trouble finding the right line and clearly this has become a weakness. I know where the problem lies so I just need to work on that.”
Following on from this was the Mazda Fan Endurance (“Maz Tai”) where the #15 Roadster Classic 2000 TUNED of Teruaki Kato, Yui Tsutsumi and Tomoyuki Tsutsumi took away victory, making it a double win for Yui. Following them in 2nd was Team TERRAMOS’ 2000 NORMAL, which carried out a steadfast fuel saving race to take 2nd. This was also a double podium for them following the Party Race. It should be mentioned that this year a new regulation has been introduced which requires that the engine must be shut off for at least 1 minute during pit stops. This further means that to achieve victory, teams really need well thought out strategies, superb driving technique and fuel saving.
Team TERRAMOS’ team principal, Terada said, “Our race went really well, so I think, for a novice driver, it really couldn’t be better. Also, in the “Maz Tai,” I left everything including the race strategy to our young crew, which includes Umeda. So for them to take 2nd is a huge boost to morale. This was a great opportunity for them to learn the steps from strategy formulation to implementing the actual race so I’m really satisfied.”
Tsutsumi, the novice who achieved victory, is a young driver from TCR Ichioshi. This 19 year old is a first year university student who has been karting since he was just 5 and has displayed exceptional talent, achieving amazing results in numerous events. Being recognised as a young man with serious potential, from last year he has been competing in the S-FJ Motegi Champion Series. He is definitely a driver to keep your eye on. It very much seems that this year the Party Race II has a lot of excitement in store for us.
Photo by B-sports
When all the entrants gathered in the pits there were many comments like, “Hey I’m glad you’re out again this year! Let’s both do our best, yeah?” An incredibly friendly atmosphere could be felt within the group.
The 8-lap race started at 1:00pm. Starting from 3rd on the grid, #12 Umeda leapt up to overtake pole sitter #27 Tsutsumi and be running 2nd behind #123 Izumi, who had managed to grapple the lead. After this, Umeda began a braking battle and made his way through #123 Izumi’s inline at the final corner to rise to the front of the pack. At lap 7 #123 Izumi was forced to hit the brakes to avoid a collision with #12 Umeda, who was caught on the outside during a 3-car battle for position. This allowed #27 Tsutsumi to rise up to 2nd and begin a fierce pursuit of #12 Umeda, visibly reducing the almost 1-second margin he had been building up in the lead. By the last section heading towards the last corner of the final lap, he was bumper to bumper with #12 Umeda and waiting for a chance to make his move. Entering into his slip stream then moving up at the final straight, the two were side-by-side, and an edge-of-your-seat battle unfolded for victory. With the entire venue’s eyes glued to the race, #27 Tsutsumi managed to grab the win with a mere 0.04 second margin.
After the race Tsutsumi, also a Formula racer, coolly stated, “I thought that if I could just break through the stalemate of the battle for 2nd I had more than enough chance to take victory. I broke out of the pack at lap 7 to rise to 2nd and decided to make my move at the last lap of the final corner. I carefully watched how Umeda was driving and felt that I was faster in the section heading towards the final corner. I thought if I could enter his slipstream there I had more than enough chance to overtake him.” On the other hand, Umeda also calmly analysed his own performance, saying, “when practicing I felt that I was having trouble finding the right line and clearly this has become a weakness. I know where the problem lies so I just need to work on that.”
Following on from this was the Mazda Fan Endurance (“Maz Tai”) where the #15 Roadster Classic 2000 TUNED of Teruaki Kato, Yui Tsutsumi and Tomoyuki Tsutsumi took away victory, making it a double win for Yui. Following them in 2nd was Team TERRAMOS’ 2000 NORMAL, which carried out a steadfast fuel saving race to take 2nd. This was also a double podium for them following the Party Race. It should be mentioned that this year a new regulation has been introduced which requires that the engine must be shut off for at least 1 minute during pit stops. This further means that to achieve victory, teams really need well thought out strategies, superb driving technique and fuel saving.
Team TERRAMOS’ team principal, Terada said, “Our race went really well, so I think, for a novice driver, it really couldn’t be better. Also, in the “Maz Tai,” I left everything including the race strategy to our young crew, which includes Umeda. So for them to take 2nd is a huge boost to morale. This was a great opportunity for them to learn the steps from strategy formulation to implementing the actual race so I’m really satisfied.”
Tsutsumi, the novice who achieved victory, is a young driver from TCR Ichioshi. This 19 year old is a first year university student who has been karting since he was just 5 and has displayed exceptional talent, achieving amazing results in numerous events. Being recognised as a young man with serious potential, from last year he has been competing in the S-FJ Motegi Champion Series. He is definitely a driver to keep your eye on. It very much seems that this year the Party Race II has a lot of excitement in store for us.
Photo by B-sports
Archive
2023
- 07/10
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2021
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2020
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2019
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Hiromatsu Demio, NOPRO Axela take class 2nd place in S-Tai SUGO03/29
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2018
11/07
Mazda Cars Dominate ST-5 class Podium at S-Tai Final Round at Okayama10/23
Okada Demio 15MB Grabs Class 3rd at JRC Takayama10/23
Mad Mike Grabs Formula Drift Japan Title09/13
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Murakami Motors Roadster takes ST-5 class victory in S-Tai 24-Hours of Fuji05/25
Okada Demio Misses 3rd Place Podium by milliseconds05/01
NOPRO Axela SKY-D Grabs ST-2 Class 2nd at S-Tai SUGO04/10
Okada Demio 15MB Grabs JN3 Class 3rd in Debut Rally04/03
Three Roadsters Reach the Podium at S-Tai Opening Round at Suzuka
2017
10/31
Team Jinba Ittai’s Masahiro Sato Takes 2nd Place10/20
#37 NOPRO Demio SKY-D Rounds off Season with Consecutive ST-5 Class Victories10/02
Mad Mike Overwhelms the Competition to Take Victory at FD Okuibuki09/21
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NOPRO Demio Grabs Season First Victory08/24
Matsui’s RE Amemiya RX-7 Takes D1 Rd. 6 Tanso Victory07/27
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Mazda Teams Dominate ST-5 Podium (S-Tai Autopolis)06/29
Sayaka Kato Takes Overall Victory in Fiercely Fought All-Female Fuji L106/28
Matsui’s RE Amemiya RX-7 Takes 10th Place at D1 Tsukuba06/13
Second Consecutive Lights-to-Flag Victory for Murakami Roadster05/02
Murakami Motors Roadster Grabs Season First Win at S-Tai SUGO04/04
Murakami Roadster Takes ST-5 class 3rd in S-Tai Opening Round03/09
NOPRO To Take On Super Taikyu with Axela SKY-D02/07
Karakama Demio Takes JN-3 Class 2nd at JRC Tsumagoi Opening Round
2016
11/25
Umeda in ND, Tsuji in NC Take Perfect 4 Race Victories. Okazawa Grabs V2 in NB11/25
NOPRO Demio SKY-D Finishes 2nd, Ends S-Tai Series at ST-5 Class 3rd11/11
Shimada Demio Takes JN-3 Class 2nd in JRC Shinshiro Rally11/10
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Terakawa Demio Grabs JN3 Class 2nd at JRC Rally Toya06/28
Iwai Takes First Tanso Victory in RE Roadster06/18
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NOPRO Demio SKY-D Grabs First Victory at S-Tai Suzuka06/14
Okada Demio Takes JN3 Class 2nd in All Japan Wakasa Rally05/19
Murakami Motors ND Roadster Achieves Superb Lights-to-Flag Victory05/10
Nakanishi RX-8 Takes 2nd in JRC Rd. 2 Kumakogen Rally, Okada Demio Retires04/26
RE Amemiya’s Matsui Advances to First D1 Tsuiso Since Move04/14
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RD Roadster Makes Fuji Champion Race Debut!04/05
NOPRO Demio SKY-D Takes Class 2nd in S-Tai Opener03/28
RE Roadster Tears Through First Qualification
2015
11/28
20-year old Tsutsumi Becomes Party Race II’s Last Champion11/25
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Joining the Okada Demio, the Mazda RX-8 also Grabs JRC Class Championship11/06
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Aya Machida Comes Out on Top of Decisive Three Way Fuji Demio Battle10/31
NOPRO Demio SKY-D Takes 3rd Step on Podium at S-Tai Suzuka10/27
RE Amemiya GruppeM-RX7 Enthralls Crowd in Tsuiso10/22
Demio Monopolizes Podium at JRC Round 8 Highland Masters!09/25
Okada Demio Takes JN3 Class Victory at JRC Rd. 7 to Secure the Title!09/09
Murakami Motors NC Roadster Grabs First S-Tai Points at Rain Soaked Okayama09/09
Kawashima Demio SKY-D Grabs 3rd in All Japan Dirt Trial Rd 709/08
Okada Demio Takes Third Class Victory in JRC Rd 6, “Montre in Tsumagoi”09/08
RE Amemiya GruppeM-RX7 is Superb in Tsuisō09/08
Mazda WIM Selection Team Complete Roadster 4-Hour in 14th09/02
Aya Machida Takes FCR Rd 4 Victory in Demio SKY-D08/07
NOPRO Demio SKY-D Grabs 4th and TCR Roadster Takes 5th in Scorching S-Tai Kyushu.08/05
R MAGIC RX-7 Takes 4th in D1 Ebisu07/31
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Suenaga’s Team RE Amemiya GruppeM RX-7 Grabs 3rd07/01
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NOPRO Demio SKY-D Grabs 4th in Chaotic S-Tai Round 205/21
Matsui Advances to D1 “tsuiso” Tournament But Retires With Machine Trouble05/17
Two New Stars Again Dominate Roadster Party Race Ⅱ Round 2 at Tsukuba05/12
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Demio SKYACTIV-D makes its Fuji Champion Race Debut.04/25
RX-7s Eliminated Early Despite Strong Performance04/19
After Fierce Battle Between 2 New Stars Tsutsumi Comes Out on Top04/14
Mazda Demio Takes JN3 Class Victory in All Japan Rally Karatsu03/30
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Team TERRAMOS’s Umeda Takes A Lights-to-Flag Victory in Race Debut01/17
Huge crowd intoxicated by double performance of RX-8 and RX-7 D1GP Kickoff Drift
2014
12/02
Kawakita RX-7 Places 2nd In All Japan Gymkhana SA2 Class With 2 Season Wins. 2014 All Japan Gymkhana Review11/17
NOPRO Demio finishes 4th in close battle to take series 3rd11/08
Demio and RX-8 take double win at final round of All Japan Rally, Shinshiro Rally 2014 (Aichi Prefecture)10/30
Resurrected NOPRO Demio grabs 4th in ST-5 class, Super Taikyu Round 5 Suzuka10/23
Suenaga’s RE Amemiya RX-7 wins to become “tanso” champion D1 GP Round 7 Odaiba10/21
Mazda machines take 2 class victories at All Japan Rally’s MCSC Highland Masters09/11
NC Roadsters have solid finish. Misfortune causes NOPRO Demio to miss 3rd. Super Taikyu Series Round 409/10
A grandiose commemorative 25th Media Four Hours Endurance Race09/03
Nakamura RX-8 takes 3rd JN1 win at All Japan “Tango Hanto Rally”08/30
Matsui grabs first win in R Magic RX-7, Matsunaga rises to series 2nd D1GP Ebisu Round07/31
S-Tai series highlights, NOPRO Demio grabs 2nd at 7 Hours of Fuji07/30
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RE Amemiya 3 Rotor RX-7 shows phenomenal competitiveness at D1GP Round 205/11
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RX-8, advance into the D1 Best 16 thwarted by bad weather03/30
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