Nestled amongst the hills of Gunma Prefecture northeast of Tokyo, the Gunma Cycle Sports activities Heart – in any other case recognized on the Gunsai touge – has earned its status as one of the iconic and difficult driving venues in Japan.

With its sharp hairpin turns, steep inclines and breathtaking views, this legendary spot has turn out to be a mecca for automotive fans and adrenaline junkies alike.

Gunsai is an energetic biking venue for our two-wheel-inclined pals to stretch their legs in an atmosphere that simulates winding mountain roads. And along with its biking roots, Gunsai can be house to a spattering of theme park type points of interest. However that’s not what you’re right here to examine.

With motorsport historical past stretching again to the early 2000s, it’s fairly a shock that Gunsai touge has solely been a grassroots drifting hotspot for the previous decade, with public occasions occurring few and much between. When public drift occasions are introduced, entries to drive this iconic venue are extremely contested, and it’s simple to see why.

With road drifting on the decline in Japan as a consequence of elevated police presence, harsh penalties and street security initiatives, it’s apparent why closed-road venues at Gunsai appeal to so many individuals. There’s a time-old notion of ‘leaving it for the observe, however replicating the pure adrenaline of drifting on a mountain street is solely unattainable on a traditional circuit. Ask any drifter you realize; they’ll inform you a similar factor.

There’s no scarcity of vehicular casualties at Gunsai – the abundance of guard rails and rock partitions undeniably instructions a major presence, even when cruising by on a sight lap. It doesn’t matter what tickles your automotive fancy, it’s powerful to look at fans throw hours of blood, sweat, tears and cash away on a single nook.

While the way forward for drifting at Gunsai touge is tough to foretell, it’s honest to say that having any alternative for these occasions has been a blessing to the Japanese drift neighborhood.

Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco