Ibaraki Prefecture Endorses Toride GP 2026: Aiming for Japan's First Simultaneous Public Road Racing Car Demonstration Led by Safety Car on October 3, 2026
On October 3, 2026, the Ibaraki Prefecture-backed 'Toride GP 2026' aims to achieve Japan's first-ever simultaneous public road racing car demonstration led by a Safety Car. This initiative promotes a new urban motorsport expression and regional revitalization.
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Aiming for Japan's First Urban Motorsport Expression
The major theme of Toride GP 2026 is to realize a simultaneous public road demonstration of racing cars led by a Safety Car. The concept of multiple racing cars running in an orderly and spectacular manner within the everyday space of a station-front urban area is a challenge to a new urban motorsport expression that goes beyond the conventional event framework. Toride GP aims to transform the town itself into a motorsport stage by combining the tension, dynamism, public interest, and話題性 (buzz) that only public roads can offer.
An Open Stage: Station-Front Public Roads
A key feature of Toride GP is its highly public, visible, and accessible location: the public roads near the North Exit of Fujishiro Station on the JR Joban Line. In 2025, the event was held on the public roads (prefectural road) near the North Exit of Fujishiro Station, with traffic regulated from 12:00 to 17:00. The concept of transforming the station-front urban area itself into a motorsport stage has taken concrete form. The great value of this stage is that it can directly deliver the sound, presence, and extraordinary nature of motorsports to people who usually have no contact with it, leading to an expansion of motorsport fans.
Concept of Simultaneous Driving by Around 7 Racing Cars (Planned)
For Toride GP 2026, the public road regulation section will be significantly expanded to the North Exit roundabout, with approximately 7 racing cars planned to drive simultaneously on urban public roads for about 1KM. The plan for multiple cars to drive through the town simultaneously, led by a Safety Car, is expected to not only enhance the rarity of the station-front public road event but also provide spectators with a more three-dimensional and dynamic motorsport experience. Through this challenge, Toride GP aims to realize a public road motorsport spectacle that is unprecedented in Japan.
Prefectural Road Old Mito Kaido
A Challenge Advanced by Local Residents and Related Organizations Working Together
Toride GP is not just an event; it is a regional project advanced by local residents and related organizations working together. Preparations for the 2025 event also proceeded with coordination among multiple local neighborhood associations and relevant administrative agencies, making local understanding and cooperation a major prerequisite for this challenge. Toride GP 2026 is steadily moving forward with preparations as an initiative to give shape to regional pride and passion.
Fujishiro and Toride's New Challenge Inheriting the History of a Post Town
The Fujishiro and Toride area is a region with a history of developing as a post town on the Mito Kaido. When the Mito Kaido began passing through Toride in the early Edo period, Toride and Fujishiro became post towns within the city, and honjin (main inns) were established. Currently, Toride City has post stations such as Toride-juku, Fujishiro-juku, and Miyawada-juku, flourishing as a transportation hub. The major significance of Toride GP is to develop this land, where people and culture once converged, into a stage where people gather again and topics are generated through motorsports in the modern era.
2025's Accumulation Supports 2026's Concept
The Toride GP Organizing Committee held the "Toride GP2025 Fujishiro Demo Run Festival" on May 10, 2025, on the public roads (prefectural road) near the North Exit of Fujishiro Station. It featured the entry of GT and Formula racing cars, public road grid walk, TOKYO SUPERCARDAY demo runs, and Formula demo runs, along with the display and driving of approximately 30 supercars. This gradual accumulation forms the foundation for the larger concept planned for 2026.
Grid Walk
Opening Ceremony
From Public Road Event to Future International Race Concept
What Toride GP aims for is not just creating a one-time buzz. While upholding the principles of regional revitalization and motorsport promotion, and anticipating regional economic benefits from visitors nationwide, it aims to incrementally pursue an FIA course concept and attract tournaments in the future. Starting with the challenge of Toride GP 2026, aiming for Japan's first Safety Car-led simultaneous urban public road racing car demonstration, it seeks to build a track record on public roads and evolve into an urban motorsport project with future international public road races in mind.
Towards Urban Development with a View to Tourism Promotion and Enhanced Accommodation/Stay Functions
Toride GP aims for more than just creating excitement on the event day. It envisions a future where Fujishiro and Toride are cultivated as new tourist destinations, with enhanced accommodation and stay functions to accommodate the expansion of the exchange population, and linked to the development of related private investment and surrounding businesses. To transform this town, which once flourished as a post town, from a "visiting town" to a "town where you want to stay" in the modern era. That is the next stage of regional value creation that Toride GP 2026 aims for.
Regarding Ibaraki Prefecture Sponsorship
Furthermore, the "Toride GP 2026 Fujishiro Demo Run" planned and operated by this committee is
The major theme of Toride GP 2026 is to realize a simultaneous public road demonstration of racing cars led by a Safety Car. The concept of multiple racing cars running in an orderly and spectacular manner within the everyday space of a station-front urban area is a challenge to a new urban motorsport expression that goes beyond the conventional event framework. Toride GP aims to transform the town itself into a motorsport stage by combining the tension, dynamism, public interest, and話題性 (buzz) that only public roads can offer.
An Open Stage: Station-Front Public Roads
A key feature of Toride GP is its highly public, visible, and accessible location: the public roads near the North Exit of Fujishiro Station on the JR Joban Line. In 2025, the event was held on the public roads (prefectural road) near the North Exit of Fujishiro Station, with traffic regulated from 12:00 to 17:00. The concept of transforming the station-front urban area itself into a motorsport stage has taken concrete form. The great value of this stage is that it can directly deliver the sound, presence, and extraordinary nature of motorsports to people who usually have no contact with it, leading to an expansion of motorsport fans.
Concept of Simultaneous Driving by Around 7 Racing Cars (Planned)
For Toride GP 2026, the public road regulation section will be significantly expanded to the North Exit roundabout, with approximately 7 racing cars planned to drive simultaneously on urban public roads for about 1KM. The plan for multiple cars to drive through the town simultaneously, led by a Safety Car, is expected to not only enhance the rarity of the station-front public road event but also provide spectators with a more three-dimensional and dynamic motorsport experience. Through this challenge, Toride GP aims to realize a public road motorsport spectacle that is unprecedented in Japan.
Prefectural Road Old Mito Kaido
A Challenge Advanced by Local Residents and Related Organizations Working Together
Toride GP is not just an event; it is a regional project advanced by local residents and related organizations working together. Preparations for the 2025 event also proceeded with coordination among multiple local neighborhood associations and relevant administrative agencies, making local understanding and cooperation a major prerequisite for this challenge. Toride GP 2026 is steadily moving forward with preparations as an initiative to give shape to regional pride and passion.
Fujishiro and Toride's New Challenge Inheriting the History of a Post Town
The Fujishiro and Toride area is a region with a history of developing as a post town on the Mito Kaido. When the Mito Kaido began passing through Toride in the early Edo period, Toride and Fujishiro became post towns within the city, and honjin (main inns) were established. Currently, Toride City has post stations such as Toride-juku, Fujishiro-juku, and Miyawada-juku, flourishing as a transportation hub. The major significance of Toride GP is to develop this land, where people and culture once converged, into a stage where people gather again and topics are generated through motorsports in the modern era.
2025's Accumulation Supports 2026's Concept
The Toride GP Organizing Committee held the "Toride GP2025 Fujishiro Demo Run Festival" on May 10, 2025, on the public roads (prefectural road) near the North Exit of Fujishiro Station. It featured the entry of GT and Formula racing cars, public road grid walk, TOKYO SUPERCARDAY demo runs, and Formula demo runs, along with the display and driving of approximately 30 supercars. This gradual accumulation forms the foundation for the larger concept planned for 2026.
Grid Walk
Opening Ceremony
From Public Road Event to Future International Race Concept
What Toride GP aims for is not just creating a one-time buzz. While upholding the principles of regional revitalization and motorsport promotion, and anticipating regional economic benefits from visitors nationwide, it aims to incrementally pursue an FIA course concept and attract tournaments in the future. Starting with the challenge of Toride GP 2026, aiming for Japan's first Safety Car-led simultaneous urban public road racing car demonstration, it seeks to build a track record on public roads and evolve into an urban motorsport project with future international public road races in mind.
Towards Urban Development with a View to Tourism Promotion and Enhanced Accommodation/Stay Functions
Toride GP aims for more than just creating excitement on the event day. It envisions a future where Fujishiro and Toride are cultivated as new tourist destinations, with enhanced accommodation and stay functions to accommodate the expansion of the exchange population, and linked to the development of related private investment and surrounding businesses. To transform this town, which once flourished as a post town, from a "visiting town" to a "town where you want to stay" in the modern era. That is the next stage of regional value creation that Toride GP 2026 aims for.
Regarding Ibaraki Prefecture Sponsorship
Furthermore, the "Toride GP 2026 Fujishiro Demo Run" planned and operated by this committee is