A rare ride-along experience at SHINOI RING achieved by a junior high school student next to professional driver Ayumu Iwasa

The event held at the SHINOI RING circuit in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, was a prize won from a lottery (gachapon) at the Super Formula venue held at Mobility Resort Motegi. It was an experience of riding in the passenger seat of racing driver Ayumu Iwasa and going full throttle around the course.

The driving experience with Ayumu Iwasa achieved at SHINOI RING

The venue SHINOI RING is a 1.3km long course located in Shinoi Town, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. It is a circuit that the Fialo Group, a vehicle development company, opened to the public in September, under the banner of "Mobility Hub." On weekdays, it serves as the company's development base, while on weekends, it becomes a place for the general public to enjoy experiences. Prior to its opening, an event was held where participants could ride in a car driven by Ayumu Iwasa.

On this day, Akiyuki Aso (14 years old) came to the event, having won the first prize in the lottery, which was the "right to sit next to pro racer Ayumu Iwasa." Each family member, including his father, Nobuyuki Aso (49 years old), got to ride. They sat in the passenger seat and drove the 1.3km on a professional circuit. Although it was a commercial vehicle, the lateral G-forces experienced on the circuit were stronger than what a layperson can imagine.

While it appeared that they were utilizing the undulations of the course, Nobuyuki and the others felt excited, thinking, "If it’s Iwasa-san, he should be able to push it more," while watching the driver Ayumu Iwasa handle the steering.

Despite this somewhat reserved driving, Akiyuki, who got out of the passenger seat, clearly had a different expression compared to before he got in. Initially a bit shy, he "started to smile more with each lap," as Ayumu Iwasa later reflected.

The surroundings are buzzing during my first time using a driving simulator.

After finishing the ride-along with driver Ayumu Iwasa, the family was guided to the driving simulator permanently installed at SHINOI RING. It is said to be the same basic equipment that Iwasa uses for his daily training, and there are only about 4 to 5 units in the country. After receiving an explanation of the controls from the staff, Iwasa first performed a demonstration lap. Since the course is set to start with cold tires, the first lap will be slippery no matter who is driving. The operation of the pedals and steering is displayed in real-time, allowing visibility of the professional's footwork that wouldn't normally be seen in a real car. It is a rare opportunity to observe a driver’s actions from such close proximity. Iwasa himself remarked, "It's nerve-wracking because you don't usually get to see it this close."

Then it was Akiki's turn. He changed into racing shoes and settled into the seat. Including the first lap on cold tires, Akiki ran normally. His driving was such that the surrounding staff exclaimed, "He's good." Akiki said, "It was a bit embarrassing," but Nobuyuki couldn't hide his surprise, saying, "I was surprised at how good he was."

From the neighboring Iwasa player, there was also advice that said, “When you brake while turning the steering wheel, the car's behavior becomes unstable and it is prone to locking up. You should finish braking while on the straight, and once you start to turn, you should ease off the brakes. Separating these operations is fundamental on the circuit.”

With some tension, Koki learned the basics of corner entry and now tries to replicate it with his own hands and feet. Combined with the experience of riding along, this is undoubtedly a precious experience that will be a treasure for a lifetime.

The distance to enjoy hot springs and SHINOI RING with the whole family.

Akiyoshi Aso, 14 years old (left), and Nobuyuki Aso, 49 years old.

From the Aso family's home in Ibaraki, it takes about 3 hours to get to SHINOI RING in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. The day before this event, the family stayed at Kinugawa and enjoyed the hot springs before coming here.

Nobuyuki says, "Recently, my daughter has grown up, and we haven't gone out as a family much. The outings were mostly just with my son to the circuit. Today, it was really nice to finally go out as a whole family."

- Nobuyuki's desired destinations are hot springs and tourist spots in Northern Kanto, like Nikko and Nasu. Because it takes time to go through the city, family outings naturally lean towards the north. SHINOI RING is almost directly on that route.

Nobuyuki says, "I think SHINOI RING is just the right distance for our travel route." <

- Nobuyuki originally liked motorsports and had been taking Akiyoshi to the circuit since he was little. However, Akiyoshi's reaction was not very enthusiastic for a long time.

Nobuyuki says, "At first, my son had no interest at all. It was only from around the second year of junior high (last year) that my efforts finally paid off (laughs)." <

- According to Akiyoshi himself, the turning point was Honda's new Prelude.

Akiyoshi says, "When I first saw it, I thought it was cool. From there, I became interested in cars and might have gotten into it." <

- He was attracted not only by the styling but also by "the way new technology feels close at hand." He finds it interesting how changes happening now are reflected directly in the products, such as the sound engineering of electric vehicles. Both father and son love Honda, and the car Akiyoshi wants to drive in the future is the Civic Type R. He often has conversations like "The Prelude doesn't have a Type R out yet, does it?" It seems these discussions are part of their daily life.

Before I knew it, Akihiro-san had come to love cars. When asked about his future dreams, he had long considered "wanting to work in a job related to cars." He also had an image of wanting to work for an automobile manufacturer. However, that has been a little shaken since this day. There’s a thought that he might want to become a driver.

Now in his third year of middle school, the main topic of conversation is high school entrance exams. In the summer leading up to the entrance exams, a new option arose.

Athlete Ayumu Iwasa said, "Cars are not only a means of transportation but also something attractive."

On this day, Ayumu Iwasa took the Aso family for a ride as a driver. He currently operates out of overseas and also participates in races in Japan. While opportunities to race domestically are few and far between, he came to SHINOI RING for this event.

Iwasa also spoke about the feedback he received.

Iwasa said, "I think the Aso family was excited before getting in, but I’m happy that they smiled even more after the ride. I feel we were able to spend a fun time together."

– During the ride, they talked about experiences at the circuit and interest in cars while gradually increasing the pace. What he kept an eye on were their mental state and well-being.

Iwasa said, "I was asking if they were okay with thrill rides as we drove. Everyone was fine, so I thought maybe we could pick up the speed a bit."

– The family's reactions upon getting out of the car were consistent. It wasn’t just that it was exciting; they reacted with "a changed perspective on cars." This was similar for the wife and daughter, who had not been very interested in cars.

Iwasa said, "It left a strong impression that they felt, ‘This is how cars move, this is how they can be handled.’"

– What Iwasa wanted to convey was the importance of not just seeing or hearing about it but actually “experiencing it yourself.” In a fan event that Iwasa had organized in the past, activities involving movement, such as coloring, simulators, and sitting in the cockpit, received particularly strong reactions from the children.

Iwasa said, "Baseball and soccer have environments where you naturally come into contact from a young age, but opportunities for motorsports are rapidly decreasing. However, cars are a means of transport and also something captivating. If people can understand that appeal, I have confidence that motorsports will resonate in everyone's hearts."

The children who experienced the circuit eventually express their desire to go again on their own accord. At the entrance of that chain is the SHINOI RING. The experience program prepared for the weekend is the first step, and the time will come for it to blossom into a culture surrounding cars.

A place to enjoy the car itself on the way to Nikko or Nasushiobara. There may be no more luxurious choice for spending a weekend than this.

Facility Name: SHINOI RING
Location: 1804 Maeyama, Shinoi-cho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
On-road Course: Total Length 1.3km
Associated Facilities: Dirt Course, Rest House (Café), Driving Simulator
Public Opening: From Saturday, September 19, 2026
https://shinoi-ring-ts.phiaro.jp/

●SHINOI RING / Phiaro Group

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