What is the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan?

Recently, for the first time in four years, my family and I went to watch the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan (PCCJ) held at Okayama International Circuit.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Japan is a motorsport event organized by Porsche, featuring a one-make race held within Japan. Since all participants compete using the same car model and specifications, the race becomes a fascinating test of driver skill and team strategy.

PCCJ often serves as a support race for the Super GT series and is held throughout the year at various circuits such as Fuji Speedway and Suzuka Circuit.

Currently, PCCJ plays an important role as a platform for young drivers to showcase their talent and advance their careers.

Watching the Race in the Rain at Okayama International Circuit

The weather on the day was predictably rainy.

Since I’m known as a heavy rain and storm magnet, I expected rain, but it turned out to be even heavier than I imagined (I do feel a bit sorry for everyone…)

Watching a race in the rain can be challenging, but thanks to the kindness of the dealer who always supports us, we were able to watch from a temporary lounge. Thank you so much…!

During the Super GT qualifying, the race was even red-flagged due to heavy rain and fog, and it felt quite chilly at times, so having the lounge was a huge relief, especially with kids.

It was also great to see Rico Otsuka, the PCCJ MC who had visited our home before, after several years…!

For rainy race days, kids definitely need raincoats. Adults brought rain gear too, but we ended up not needing it. By the time of the PCCJ final in the evening, the rain had stopped, and we were able to enjoy the race from the grandstand along the home straight, which was wonderful.

Rediscovering the Thrill of Racing

Before going, I honestly felt a bit overwhelmed thinking, “Taking three kids (9, 6, and 2 years old) all the way to a distant circuit, especially in the rain, is going to be tough…” but once we were there, I truly thought, “I’m so glad we came!”

The sound of the 992 GT3 Cup car engines and the sight of them speeding down the home straight are definitely worth experiencing. Personally, I prefer the higher-pitched, more soaring engine sound of the Cup cars over the engines in Super GT cars.

We also had the added joy of cheering for Ryo Ogawa, a driver entered through the dealer who supports us. (Apparently, he sometimes listens to our Twitter Spaces too, which is funny!)

Watching a race featuring a driver you know really adds to the excitement and passion of cheering.

A photo from a talk show with Ryo Ogawa held at the dealer previously.

The 15 laps of the final flew by so quickly that I thought, “What? It’s already over? I wish they could race another 10 laps!” but then I realized that would be a huge demand on the drivers’ concentration and stamina… (sweat)

Experiencing a race live is completely different from watching on TV—the excitement and emotions you feel are truly priceless.

I believe the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan is an event that can be enjoyed not only by car and motorsport enthusiasts but also by families. The thrilling race action, powerful engine sounds, and the intense atmosphere of the pit work offer plenty of excitement even for first-timers.

Scenes from the pit walk.

Hopefully, we’ll get to watch another race this year! (Today, PCCJ is being held at Fuji Speedway under beautiful weather.) Thanks again to everyone who helped make this experience possible!