Back for its 11th year, Japfest, Europe’s biggest Japanese car event, returned to Castle Combe Saturday.
Being deep in rural Wiltshire, getting to the circuit can be an issue, with some people queueing into the afternoon for last years event. Despite some doubters though, it seems the improvements made this year alleviated the epic queues.
The weather forecast for the day was a little sketchy but in a break from recent form, the British weather decided it would spare us the worst and just drizzle once or twice. Just enough to make proud owners reach for their polishing cloths.
Proving this really is Europe’s largest Japanese car show, club stands lined the course from Bobbies to Quarry Corner with every major Japanese marque represented.
Track sessions ran throughout the day giving the 16,000 strong crowd plenty to watch, with some great Jap machines taking to the circuit.
Topping the bill was the Drift Kings competition. Open to anyone with a competition drift license and judged on “Style, Smoke, Skill and Entry Speed!” during 3 sessions over the day. Plenity of favourites from the BDC and Drift Allstars championships took part, including Drift Allstar Walton Smith in his RB-powered Subaru and Matt Samuel from the BDC.
Matt went on to take 1st place in his Nissan 300ZX.
Seeing these machines barelling down Avon Rise and sliding sideways into Quarry at over 100 miles per hour was a sight to behold.
If you can’t wait until next year Japfest2 takes place on the 7th July at Donnington. Full details at www.japfest2.co.uk
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