Okayama International Circuit Co., Ltd.
株式会社岡山国際サーキット
| Type |
Kabushiki gaisha |
| Founded |
Aida (part of Mimasaka), Okayama Prefecture, Japan (August 13, 1988 (1988-08-13)) |
| Headquarters |
Mimasaka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan |
| Parent |
Unimat Holding Co., Ltd. |
The Okayama International Circuit (岡山国際サーキット), named TI Circuit Aida (TIサーキット英田) until December 31, 2004, is a 2.301-mile (3.7 km) private motorsport race track in Mimasaka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. TI is abbreviation of "Tanaka International" after the name of the golf club owner, 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 1994 and 1995, 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, "Tanaka International Company", parent company of "TI Circuit Company", applied for Civil Rehabilitation Law. After the application, Unimat Holding Co., Ltd. [1] announced that it would support TI Circuit Company. The owner of the circuit was renamed Okayama International Circuit Co., Ltd. on May 1, 2004, and the name of the circuit was renamed "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.[1]
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Racetracks of the Super GT Grand Touring Series |
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| Current Courses (2010) |
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| D1SL Courses |
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| Past Courses |
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Coordinates: 34°54′54″N 134°13′16″E / 34.915°N 134.22111°E / 34.915; 134.22111
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