According to Future, the 15,051 Japanese car enthusiasts packing out Wiltshire’s Castle Combe Circuit were almost a quarter up on the attendance delivered in 2009, with a 22% rise.
Japfest is the first event of seven shows that comprise the Adrian Flux Auto Series. Organised by Future’s performance automotive portfolio; the Auto Series is part of a portfolio that includes market leading magazines such as Fast Car, Redline, Fast Ford and Total Vauxhall.
With a thrilling mix of high octane track action, the largest gathering of high performance Japanese cars in Europe, unique displays of the rarest and most powerful, a vibrant retail village and buzzing club zones packed into the fantastic setting of Castle Combe Racing Circuit; it’s an event that just gets better every year.
New for 2010 was the Extreme Team Drift Battle; with specially invited drivers competing for a cash prize and with some big names on track, there were reputations at stake, too. After three hard-fought rounds, which produced some of the closest and most exciting drifting ever seen at the Combe, Phil Morrison and Dan Chapman from Team Driftworks took top spot, with a stunning display of high speed, sideways car control.
With public track sessions sold out well in advance, the circuit was busy all day and, in typical Japfest style, the range and variety of cars on track was one of the highlights for the hardcore enthusiast. There was everything from Evos, Imprezas and Skylines, to rare beasts such as a Subaru Brat pickup and a Mitsubishi RVR MPV.
Another new feature for 2010 was the Platinum Retail Village, which brought together some of the UK’s premier aftermarket parts companies; including Milltek Sport, Pioneer, KW Automotive, Maxxis Tyres, TSW, Meguiar’s and STP.
Gez Jones, Associate Publisher for Future’s automotive portfolio said: “Having seen such fantastic results in ‘09 from our increased investment in planning, feature delivery and marketing, and seeing a year-on-year uplift in advance sales, we knew 2010 would deliver some exciting attendance figures.
It has to be said, though, that the 22% uplift delivered by Japfest was beyond our expectation. The success is a fantastic sign of how vibrant the aftermarket tuning scene is right now, and how well our products excite and satisfy the active consumers within this sector.”
This year sees the launch of Japfest 2: The Evolution, which comes to Rockingham – Europe’s fastest racing circuit – in Northamptonshire, on 15th August. Japfest 2 will build on the success of Japfest’s winning formula to create the world’s most extreme Japanese tuning show. See www.japfest2.co.uk for more.
About the Adrian Flux Auto Events Series 2010
Japfest – Europe’s biggest Japanese performance car show, Castle Combe, 15th May.
Classic Ford Show – The UK’s premier classic Ford event, Santa Pod, 6th June.
The Performance Vauxhall Show – The no. 1 performance Vauxhall festival, Santa Pod, 12th & 13th June.
Ford Fair – Europe’s biggest Ford Festival, Silverstone, 8th August.
Total Vauxhall Live – The high-octane performance Vauxhall circuit event, 7th August, Castle Combe.
Japfest 2: The Evolution – The world’s most extreme Japanese tuning show, 15th August, Rockingham Motor Speedway.
TRAX – The ultimate performance car event, Silverstone, 5th September.
