Actually, since the end of last year, my health hasn’t been great, so I haven’t been able to drive or even sit at my computer to write the blog, which has been quite frustrating.

It’s not an illness, and based on past experience, I know my condition will improve after a while, but there may be times when blog updates stop for a bit.

That said, it’s definitely not because my passion for blogging has cooled down, haha. I expect to be writing again like before soon, so thank you for your continued support.

So today, I want to share about how my husband went to Suzuka Circuit in his GT3 at the end of last year and wrote about how to get a license and drive there. Please take a look.

Suzuka Circuit

When you hear “Suzuka Circuit,” even if you’re not a motorsports fan or car enthusiast, you’ve probably heard the name at least once. It’s famous for F1 and the 8-hour endurance race, and I used to go watch F1 races there often. So, how can you drive your own car at Suzuka Circuit? Let me summarize the options.

There are basically two ways to drive your own car at Suzuka Circuit:

1. Participate in a track day organized by tuning shops or owners’ clubs
2. Obtain a license from Suzuka Circuit and drive

If you want to drive more casually, option 1, the track day, is recommended, and that’s what I’ve done so far. However, there aren’t many dates available, and even if the dates fit your schedule, joining a track day organized by a group you don’t know can feel a bit intimidating.

That’s why I recommend option 2. It’s actually very simple.

If you want to drive your own street-legal car on Suzuka Circuit’s International Racing Course (the same course used for F1), you need to join the “SMSC Challenge Club” run by Suzuka Circuit, take a course, and get a license issued.

This time, I’d like to introduce how to drive your own street-legal car on the International Racing Course.

First, book the course by phone

First, check the schedule for the course on Suzuka Circuit’s official website. There’s a PDF on the site, and you’ll find a row labeled “Challenge Club” for the International Racing Course. Choose a date that works for you from those listed.

Once you decide on a date, call the SMSC office number listed in the PDF to make a reservation. The lady on the phone will kindly explain everything, so you probably won’t have any trouble, but it’s good to decide the following points beforehand:

• Car model
  • Note that open cars without a 4-point or higher roll bar, RVs, and kei cars are generally not allowed.
  • If unsure, check by phone. By the way, the Porsche Boxster (981) was not allowed.
• Whether you plan to drive on the same day as the course

When I got my license, I reserved two 30-minute driving slots for the afternoon of the course day.

What to prepare before the course

After booking by phone, a few days later you’ll receive an application form and a set of explanatory documents by mail. The details are in those documents, but fill out the application form with the required information in advance.

Also, you’ll need three ID photos, so if you don’t have them, get them taken. If you forget, there’s an instant photo booth in front of the SMSC office, but just in case it’s out of order, it’s better to prepare them beforehand.

On the day, besides these, you’ll need to pay the membership fee, annual fee, and mutual aid association fee, which totaled 36,300 yen when I joined. Except for the 10,000 yen mutual aid fee, you can pay by credit card. Also, bring your driver’s license and writing tools.

And if you plan to drive that day, don’t forget your helmet, gloves, and long sleeves and pants.

On the day of the course

On the day, arrive at Suzuka Circuit by the designated time and enter through the motorsports gate. Tell the gate staff you’re attending the SMSC course, then proceed. After passing through two tunnels, you’ll see the SMSC office building on the right. Park your car in the lot in front and complete reception inside.

The course lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. It covers an overview of SMSC membership, benefits, how to book driving slots, how to purchase them, and the rules for driving at Suzuka Circuit. The rules are especially important, so listen carefully.

After the course, you’ll receive a temporary license card on the spot. The official license card will be mailed later, so use the temporary one until then.

With this, all that’s left is to book and purchase your driving slots, and you can drive your own car at Suzuka Circuit.

Circuit driving can feel intimidating and many hesitate at first, but why not start a new hobby by driving your own car there?