【Garage Tour】The Super GT participating team, Racing Project Bandoh, aimed for an open garage concept

The newly established racing garage is not just a maintenance hub but is intentionally designed with the premise of being "visible." I was guided by Masataka Bando and had the opportunity to hear about this concept.

Space design for "showcasing," FUJI BASE FACTORY

The team Racing Project Bandoh is participating in the top category of Super GT, GT500, with car number 19.

The team had previously established a factory in Gotemba city, but has newly built the "RACING PROJECT BANDOH FUJI BASE FACTORY" near Fuji Speedway (FUJI BASE FACTORY). This not only serves as a maintenance base for car number 19 but has also been designed as an "open garage" to be widely shown to the general public.

On this day, it was opened early for sponsors and related parties, and we had a tour of the facilities conducted by Masataka Bandō, the president of Racing Project Bandoh.

Masataka Bandō
President of Bandoh Shokai Co., Ltd. and Racing Project Bandoh, Inc.
Born March 31, 1976, from Tokyo. Director of TGR TEAM WedsSport BANDOH (SUPER GT・GT500). At 18, he went to Germany on a soccer scholarship. After being active in Japan as a J-League trainee, he joined Bandoh Shokai. After joining, he got to know Manabu Orido and developed an interest in racing. His father is Masaaki Bandō, chairman of Bandoh Shokai and former director of Racing Project Bandoh.

The Super GT team aimed to create an "open garage" for children

Interviewer
Makoto Ninosé (right)
Born July 2, 1976, from Omura city in Nagasaki Prefecture. Head of the Mobility Lifestyle Design Division at Culture Convenience Club (CCC). After working as a designer and director, he joined CCC in 2009. Since 2019, he has been a director at ABT Marketing, Inc. of the Autobacs Seven Group (current position). He produces a variety of locally-focused events and manufacturer product planning centered around car life and outdoor activities.

Nise: "The spacious corridor on the second floor has a view overlooking the racing machines and the reference plane (an alignment tester used for precise settings), and you can survey almost the entire large garage from there."

Bandou: "Yes. In fact, we put a lot of thought into this corridor as well. I wanted it to be an open garage where children can look down and watch the mechanics at work."

Nise: "The idea of opening up the garage for everyone to see is interesting. Since Super GT is a popular motorsport, we definitely have families with children among the fans."

Bandou: "I really want children to like cars and be interested in motorsports. And I want them to see the cool mechanics working in a cool garage. When I was studying soccer in Germany, I got to experience an open garage in a local motorsport facility, and the mechanics and the building looked so cool, it made me wish to realize something like that one day."

——In the previous factories, we couldn’t secure a safe space for visitors, and an open garage could not be realized. Therefore, at the new FUJI BASE FACTORY, President Bandou personally participated in the design aiming for the implementation of an open garage, creating an environment where children can safely watch the work being done.

Nise: "Bandou-san has been involved in vehicle exhibitions and experiences for children to get into the cockpit, right? Does this mean you’re aiming to integrate education and entertainment, rather than just running a garage?"

Bandou: "That’s right. I just wanted to present what we do in a way that many people can see, even a little, so they can enjoy it."

Nise: "Bandou Masatake, who is the team director of Super GT and also the president of Bandou Shokai, which has built up Japan's racing scene since my father's generation, I find it very interesting that, broadly speaking, he is thinking about how to energize Japan's automotive industry from the perspective of racing by showing children the mechanics at work."

――On this day, although the garage was not yet in its completed form, the WedsSport BANDOH GR Supra, currently participating in the Super GT GT500 this year, was parked there. The experience of seeing not only these real racing cars but also the staff maintaining them up close is likely to be an exciting one, even for those who are not Super GT fans.

BANDOH: "Here, we also offer a maintenance vehicle storage service. Not only can you drop off your vehicle, but we are also considering a service where, for an additional fee, you can check on your car from your smartphone through a dedicated live camera. It's kind of like a pet monitoring service."

On this day, two Ferrari Challenge vehicles were already in for maintenance. When raised on a jack, it's possible to see parts of the brakes and suspension even from a distance if there are no tires. If you're curious about the structure and details of racing cars, you're sure to make new discoveries.

The forefront of human resource development and technology inheritance

――The stars of the garage are the people and the cars. As a workplace, it also allows for a glimpse of the "back side" with workbenches, lathes, and more.

Bando: "This whole place is a workshop. I think all the boys will be happy here."

Nise: "This workbench is really cool too. It's not just for kids; even adults get excited."

Bando: "I think it's amazing to admire craftsmen who use such machine tools. It's an era where almost everything can be made with 3D printers, but being able to use (machine) tools really broadens your horizons. It's nice to have an environment where things can be made in the current Super GT too." Nise: "It's also fun to see mechanics working in places like this as part of a social studies field trip." Bando: "I believe it would be good to create a situation where we can properly explain things, but we are still not quite there yet."

"In an era where the number of young people aiming to become skilled artisans is decreasing, making the transfer of skills increasingly difficult. However, the racing scene remains a traditional place for 'craftsmanship' where artisans thrive. Such prideful environments are also expected to be unveiled in the future."

Exhibitions of historic racing cars and dedicated meeting rooms.

In a separate building, in addition to the historical racing cars developed by Racing Project Bandou, minor touring cars borrowed from Asano Racing Service, with whom they have a connection, as well as Group A race vehicles, were displayed, creating an atmosphere similar to a racing museum. Although renovations to the building are still to come, public access is also scheduled for around autumn.

By the way, the meeting room situated in the center of the garage is also President Bando's obsession. Incorporating comfortable lighting and calming decor, President Bando joked, "It feels a bit like a cabaret, doesn't it?" while being aware of the open garage and its coziness.

On this second floor, a dining space for employees has also been prepared, featuring comfortable lighting and decor similar to the meeting room.

The changing room for staff to switch into work clothes is designed with an MLB locker room in mind. Each staff member's name is posted, reflecting respect for those who work here.

The completion and public opening of the garage, which President Bando is particular about, is scheduled for after autumn.

As for this open garage, while the reception is currently still undecided, details such as the start time and application method are expected to be announced on the official site of RACING PROJECT BANDOH once they are determined.

I am looking forward to the future of this major project plan to dramatically renovate the "existing vast 150-tsubo warehouse" into an open garage and automotive museum.

RACING PROJECT BANDOH
https://www.bandohracing.com/

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