There was no such racing series in the world where cars from Group A, Group C, Group B, GT … shared the same starting grid. And it is a All Japan Grand Touring Championsip, of course.
The Taisan team is, in my opinion, one of the most extraordinary racing teams after Hesketh. Started in the Group C era, conquered the Japanese circuits, then won the 24h LeMans (in its class in 2000 year), and of course made the 1994 JGTC inaugural season incredibly memorable with the cars they displayed. Epochal, impudent, for all the money, the Porsche 962c, the legend of Group C, fought side by side with the Japanese “godzillas” R32, as well as with a companion on the Ferrari F40!
Most importantly, each of Taisan’s cars won a stage. The following year, the Taisan team took the 993 GT instead of the 962C and continued their victorious path to the team and individual Championship title.
The 962C was loaded with 300 kg of ballast for balance of performance (it seems there was even a small restrictor, but it is not clear). 962C peak was at the first and third stages in Fuji speedway in 1994. The victory was won from the second shot. In the debut race, the 962C qualified on pole, but the standing start was not on the advantage of this beasty. The clutch of the 962C and car in general was not a drag machine, so by the first corner Godzillas were ahead. However, already at the third stage, the victory was in the pocket.
F40 is no less interesting instance. It was not the Michelotto GTU version, but the most common road F40, at the first stage it was almost stock. During the season Taisan evolved it to the CTU version. And at the last stage of the season on the Mine track, the red beast F40 took the victory.
The 993 falls a bit short in terms of hotness, however… That doesn’t detract from it, as the 1995 results shows. Externally, the 993 from Taisan differs from the Fia GT and BPR versions in front and rear bodykit, and side skirts.
For a complete set of early Tasan, I still lack the black-red F40 in the Adwan livery, which Taisan raced in the same time with the red one by mid-1994.
There were other unique cars in this 1994, such as the almost stock Countach of the JLOC club, the 037 of group B and other beauties, but that’s another story …
I hope you enjoy the photos
