2007 D1 Grand Prix series

The 2007 Autobacs D1 Grand Prix series was the seventh season for the D1 Grand Prix series and was the second season for its spinoff D1 Street Legal.

2007 D1 Grand Prix series
Previous: 2006 Next: 2008

It was the first time since 2003 that the entire series took place entirely in Japan.

It began on 4 February 2007, as a D1SL exclusive event at Sekia Hills, the mainstay D1GP event opened on 25 March at Ebisu Circuit. At the same year, due to its popularity of its US point scoring round that was held over three seasons, it saw an introduction of its own domestic series, but the series would suffer two setbacks as it suffered from two cancellations, one at Irwindale Speedway on 11 March, due to its Japanese competitors who were to compete, had been building cars specially to compete in the series and could not get the cars ready in time for the event[1]

The D1 US organisation suffered a further blow when due to unresolved issues, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors refused license to the D1 event to take place at Altamont Motorsports Park on 24 June, forcing it to be cancelled.[2]

It was to be the second season for the Malaysian franchise, D1MY; but due to unforeseen circumstances, round 1, which was to take place on March, was cancelled. Nothing has been heard about the organisation since.[3]

The season will be best remembered for the two-car accident between Masato Kawabata and Daigo Saito in Fuji Speedway, when during the sudden death second round, Saito dipped into the inner apex of the 300R corner, causing his car to understeer and collecting Kawabata's Silvia onto the tyre barrier in the process, severely destroyed both cars. Kawabata had a second luck escape as when he collided with the barrier, a nitrous tank housed on the passenger side of his vehicle exploded from the impact, but played no part in Kawabata's injury. Among those narrowly escaping death was Video Option cameraman, Zaku, had to duck to avoid debris from the crash. Both drivers survived without serious injuries, but however Kawabata had to be taken to hospital for treatment for whiplash injuries.[4][5]

The season will end on 25 November with an end of season All-Star event. The last D1GP event held will be on 21 October at Fuji Speedway and 11 November for D1SL at Sekia Hills.

Changes for the 2007 Season
  • The D1 Gals pairing of Kazumi Kondo and Jyuri Tamashiro have now been replaced by a quadruple called the "D1 Sisters" from D-Sign, consisting of Hiromi Goto, Yuria Tachiki, Asami Kikuchi and Ayaka Tashiro.[6] Unlike earlier girls who had a, extensive background as race queens, the group was recruited via auditions.[7]
  • The final year with Japanese car accessory retailer Autobacs as a title sponsor which was replaced by Sony's Gran Turismo videogame franchise for the All-Star event.

2007 Schedules

2007 D1 Grand Prix Point Series

Round 1 - March 24/25 - Ebisu South Course, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan - Nobushige Kumakubo (GDB)
Round 2 - April 28/29 - Fuji Speedway, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan - Atsushi Kuroi (PS13)
Round 3 - May 26/27- Suzuka Circuit, Mie Prefecture, Japan - Masao Suenaga (FD3S)
Round 4 - June 9/10 - Sports Land SUGO, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan - Masato Kawabata (S15)
Round 5 - August 25/26 - Ebisu South Course, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan - Ken Nomura (ER34)
Round 6 - September 22/23- Autopolis, Ōita Prefecture, Japan - Masato Kawabata (S15)
Round 7 - October 20/21 - Fuji Speedway, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan - Masao Suenaga (FD3S)

Round 1 - February 3/4 - Sekia Hills, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan - Kazuya Matsukawa (RPS13)
Round 2 - May 26/27 - Suzuka Circuit, Mie Prefecture, Japan (D1GP Week) - Yukiharu Komagata (GDB)
Round 3 - June 9/10- Sports Land SUGO, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan (D1GP Week) - Jin Horino (S14)
Round 4 - August 25/26 - Ebisu South Course, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan (D1GP Week) - Yukio Matsui (RPS13)
Round 5 - November 10/11- Sekia Hills, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan - Takashi Hagisako (RPS13)

D1GP Exhibition

Exhibition 1 - May 4/5 - Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, New Jersey - Nobushige Kumakubo (GDB)
Exhibition 2 - July 13/14 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada - Youichi Imamura (Z33)
Exhibition 3 - November 24 - Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, California - Nobushige Kumakubo (CT9A)
All Star Duel - November 25 - Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, California - Vaughn Gittin Jr. (S197)

Championship Results

Round 1
PositionDriverCarPoints
1st Nobushige KumakuboSubaru Impreza GDB20
2nd Masato KawabataNissan Silvia S1518
3rd Masao SuenagaMazda RX-7 FD3S16
4th Tsuyoshi TezukaNissan Skyline BNR3214
5th Tetsuya HibinoToyota Corolla Levin AE8613
6th Ken NomuraNissan Skyline ER3411
7th Katsuhiro UeoNissan Silvia S158
8th Takashi HaruyamaNissan Laurel C356
9th Tatsuya SakumaNissan Silvia S155
10th Takahiro UenoToyota Soarer JZZ303
11th Toshiki YoshiokaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE861
12th Kazuhiro TanakaSubaru Impreza GDB1
13th Toru InoseNissan Silvia S151
14th Yukio MatsuiBMW M3 E361
15th Daigo SaitoToyota Mark II JZX901
16th Naoto SuenagaSubaru Impreza GC81

Round 2
PositionDriverCarPoints
1st Atsushi KuroiNissan Silvia PS1321
2nd Masao SuenagaMazda RX-7 FD3S19
3rd Nobushige KumakuboSubaru Impreza GDB17
4th Masato KawabataNissan Silvia S1515
5th Yoshinori KoguchiNissan 180SX RPS1312
6th Michihiro TakatoriNissan Skyline ER3410
7th Daigo SaitoToyota Mark II JZX909
8th Tetsuya HibinoToyota Corolla Levin AE866
9th Tsuyoshi TezukaNissan Skyline BNR325
10th Hideo HiraokaNissan Silvia S152
11th Naoto SuenagaSubaru Impreza GC82
12th Youichi ImamuraNissan Fairlady Z Z332
13th Ryoji JinushiToyota Soarer JZZ301
14th Toshiki YoshiokaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE861
15th Takahiro UenoToyota Soarer JZZ301
16th Ken NomuraNissan Skyline ER342

Round 3
PositionDriverCarPoints
1st Masao SuenagaMazda RX-7 FD3S21
2nd see note-
3rd Youichi ImamuraNissan Fairlady Z Z3316
4th Nobushige KumakuboSubaru Impreza GDB14
5th Kazuyoshi OkamuraNissan Silvia S1512
6th Masato KawabataNissan Silvia S1511
7th Ken NomuraNissan Skyline ER348
8th Tsuyoshi TezukaNissan Skyline BNR327
9th Tsutomu FujioMazda RX-7 FD3S4
10th Kazuhiro TanakaSubaru Impreza GDB2
11th Tomokazu HirotaToyota Verossa JZX1101
12th Toshiki YoshiokaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE862
13th Kensaku KomoroToyota Sprinter Trueno AE861
14th Atsushi KuroiNissan Silvia PS131
15th Toyohisa MatsudaToyota Corolla Levin AE861
16th Tatsuya SakumaNissan Silvia S151

note. Tetsuya Hibino was originally awarded second place but was later disqualified after it was revealed that he had deliberately swerved into the path of Suenaga's car before the first corner during a Sudden Death match, causing a collision. Therefore, Hibino was stripped of his position and no second place was awarded.[8][9]

Round 4
PositionDriverCarPoints
1st Masato KawabataNissan Silvia S1520
2nd Nobushige KumakuboSubaru Impreza GDB18
3rd Hideo HiraokaNissan Silvia S1516
4th Masao SuenagaMazda RX-7 FD3S14
5th Toru InoseNissan Silvia S1513
6th Ken NomuraNissan Skyline ER3411
7th Akinori UtsumiNissan Silvia PS138
8th Toshiki YoshiokaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE866
9th Kuniaki TakahashiToyota Chaser JZX1005
10th Youichi ImamuraNissan Fairlady Z Z333
11th Takahiro UenoToyota Soarer JZZ301
12th Tsuyoshi TezukaNissan Skyline BNR321
13th Masayoshi TokitaToyota Soarer MZ121
14th Kazuhiro TanakaSubaru Impreza GDB2
15th Tomokazu HirotaToyota Verossa JZX1102
16th Michihiro TakatoriNissan Skyline ER342

Round 5
PositionDriverCarPoints
1st Ken NomuraNissan Skyline ER3420
2nd Akinori UtsumiNissan Silvia PS1318
3rd Tsuyoshi TezukaNissan Skyline BNR3216
4th Kensaku KomoroToyota Sprinter Trueno AE8614
5th Masato KawabataNissan Silvia S1513
6th Daigo SaitoToyota Mark II JZX10010
7th Tetsuya HibinoToyota Corolla Levin AE868
8th Nobushige KumakuboMitsubishi Evolution IX CT9A6
9th Toshiki YoshiokaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE864
10th Toru InoseNissan Silvia S152
11th Masao SuenagaMazda RX-7 FD3S1
12th Atsushi KuroiNissan Silvia PS131
13th Tomokazu HirotaToyota Verossa JZX1101
14th Hiroshi FukudaNissan 180SX RPS131
15th Ken MaedaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE861
16th Hideo HiraokaNissan Silvia S152

Round 6
PositionDriverCarPoints
1st Masato KawabataNissan Silvia S1521
2nd Takahiro UenoToyota Soarer JZZ3019
3rd Youichi ImamuraNissan Fairlady Z Z3316
4th Tatsuya SakumaNissan Silvia S1515
5th Toshiki YoshiokaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE8613
6th Daigo SaitoToyota Mark II JZX10010
7th Tsuyoshi TezukaNissan Skyline BNR329
8th Nobushige KumakuboMitsubishi Evolution IX CT9A7
9th Masayoshi TokitaToyota Soarer MZ124
10th Ken NomuraNissan Skyline ER343
11th Hisashi OginomeNissan Silvia S151
12th Atsushi KuroiNissan Silvia PS131
13th Masao SuenagaMazda RX-7 FD3S1
14th Toru InoseNissan Silvia S141
15th Michihiro TakatoriNissan Skyline ER341
16th Kazuyoshi OkamuraNissan Silvia S151

Round 7
PositionDriverCarPoints
1st Masao SuenagaMazda RX-7 FD3S20
2nd Yoshinori KoguchiNissan 180SX RPS1319
3rd Nobushige KumakuboMitsubishi Evolution IX CT9A17
4th Youichi ImamuraNissan Fairlady Z Z3314
5th Toshiki YoshiokaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE8612
6th Daigo SaitoToyota Mark II JZX10011
7th Tsuyoshi TezukaNissan Skyline BNR329
8th Toru InoseNissan Silvia S156
9th Takahiro UenoToyota Soarer JZZ305
10th Tatsuya SakumaNissan Silvia S152
11th Ken NomuraNissan Skyline ER342
12th Masato KawabataNissan Silvia S152
13th Akinori UtsumiNissan Silvia PS131
14th Hisashi OginomeNissan Silvia S151
15th Atsushi KuroiNissan Silvia PS131
16th Tetsuya HibinoToyota Corolla Levin AE862

Final Championship Results

D1GP
PositionDriverCarrd.1rd.2rd.3rd.4rd.5rd.6rd.7Total
1st Masato KawabataNissan Silvia S151815112013212100
2nd Nobushige KumakuboSubaru Impreza GDB / Mitsubishi Evolution IX CT9A20171418671799
3rd Masao SuenagaMazda RX-7 FD3S16192114112092
4th Tsuyoshi TezukaNissan Skyline BNR3214571169961
5th Ken NomuraNissan Skyline ER34112811203257
6th Youichi ImamuraNissan Fairlady Z Z33-2163-161451
7th Daigo SaitoToyota Mark II JZX90 / Toyota Mark II JZX10019--10101141
8th Toshiki YoshiokaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE8611264131239
9th Yoshinori KoguchiNissan 180SX RPS13-12----1931
10th Takahiro UenoToyota Soarer JZZ3031-1-19529
10th Tetsuya HibinoToyota Corolla Levin AE86136--8-229
12th Akinori UtsumiNissan Silvia PS13---818-127
13th Atsushi KuroiNissan Silvia PS13-211-21126
14th Tatsuya SakumaNissan Silvia S155-1--15223
14th Toru InoseNissan Silvia S15 / Nissan Silvia S141--1321623
16th Hideo HiraokaNissan Silvia S15-2-162--20
17th Kensaku KomoroToyota Sprinter Trueno AE86--1-14--15
18th Kazuyoshi OkamuraNissan Silvia S15--12--1-13
18th Michihiro TakatoriNissan Skyline ER34-10-2-1-13
20th Katsuhiro UeoNissan Silvia S158------8
21st Takashi HaruyamaNissan Laurel C356------6
22nd Masayoshi TokitaToyota Soarer MZ12---1-4-5
22nd Kuniaki TakahashiToyota Chaser JZX100---5---5
22nd Kazuhiro TanakaSubaru Impreza GDB1-22---5
25th Tsutomu FujioMazda RX-7 FD3S--4----4
25th Tomokazu HirotaToyota Verossa JZX110--121--4
27th Naoto SuenagaSubaru Impreza GC812-----3
28th Hisashi OginomeNissan Silvia S15-----112
29th Ryoji JinushiToyota Soarer JZZ30-1-----1
29th Yukio MatsuiBMW M3 E361------1
29th Hiroshi FukudaNissan 180SX RPS13----1--1
29th Toyohisa MatsudaToyota Corolla Levin AE86--1----1
29th Ken MaedaToyota Sprinter Trueno AE86----1--1
  • Highlighted in blue - 100pt tansou (solo run) bonus
  • Source: D1GP Official Site 2007 Championship table

D1SL
PositionDriverCarrd.1rd.2rd.3rd.4rd.5Total
1st Kazuya MatsukawaNissan 180SX RPS1320210181363
2nd Yukio MatsuiNissan 180SX RPS1310151201056
3rd Takashi HagisakoNissan Silvia PS13149612151
4th Yukiharu KomagataSubaru Impreza GDB-20-11839
5th Naoki NakamuraNissan 180SX RPS13 / Nissan Silvia S15-18--1533
6th Katsuhiro UeoNissan Silvia S15210111731
7th Naoto SuenagaNissan Silvia PS1312--16-28
8th Tetsuya HibinoNissan Silvia S15--1214127
9th Shinya KaneokaNissan Silvia S15 / Nissan Skyline ER34 / Nissan 180SX RPS13112--821
10th Jin HorinoNissan Silvia S14--20--20
10th Shinichiro YasukouchiNissan Silvia PS13181--120
12th Kosuke KamiyaNissan Silvia PS13--18--18
12th Tomohiro MurayamaNissan 180SX RPS13--162-18
14th Kazutaka YamashitaMazda RX-7 FD3S16---117
14th Kazuyoshi OkamuraNissan Silvia S15 / Nissan Fairlady Z Z33116---17
16th Naoya YamanoNissan Silvia S15-114--15
16th Akihiko HirashimaNissan 180SX RPS13 / Nissan Silvia S141--12215
18th Masami MikamiNissan Silvia S14-1-10213
18th Iwajiro HonmaNissan Skyline ECR32-1-6613
20th Seimi TanakaNissan Silvia S141611110
21st Yuji NakamuraToyota Sprinter Trueno AE868----8
21st Shinji IidaNissan Silvia S14--8--8
21st Kenji KiguhiNissan Laurel C33---8-8
21st Shiro DeuraNissan Silvia S14611--8
21st Masashi YokoiNissan Silvia S14 / Nissan Silvia S154--4-8
26th Hiroyuki FukushimaNissan Silvia PS13-4-1-5
27th Kiyofumi JikuyamaNissan Silvia S15--4--4
27th Shigenobu KogaNissan Silvia PS13----44
29th Tomokazu NakaoNissan Silvia S142----2
29th Hidesige IzuNissan Silvia S15--2--2
29th Shuichi YoshiokaToyota Chaser JZX100--11-2
29th Osamu YamaguchiNissan Silvia S142----2
33rd Takashi HiyaneToyota Corolla Levin AE86-1---1
33rd Tetsuro NakataToyota Mark II JZX110 / Toyota Mark II JZX100--1--1
33rd Takayuki MinamiNissan Silvia PS13----11
  • Highlighted in blue - 100pt tansou (solo run) bonus
  • Source: D1GP Official Site 2007 Championship table

See also

References
  1. "D1 Grand Prix USA » News » Drift Japan: 2007 D1GP USA March 10-11th Irwindale Canceled". Archived from the original on 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  2. "D1 Grand Prix USA » News » Drift Japan: Alameda County Bans Drifting - D1 Grand Prix Canceled". Archived from the original on 2007-09-22. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  3. Official D1 Grand Prix Malaysia Website Archived 2007-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
  4. [ D1GP/D1SL NEWS REPORT ] J.D.M. OPTION INTERNATIONAL (2007)
  5. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself
  6. JDM OPTION / Vol.38 - Driftworks Drifting Shop Archived 2007-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Video Option Vol. 156
  8. [ D1GP/D1SL NEWS REPORT ] J.D.M. OPTION INTERNATIONAL
  9. Video Option Vol. 160

Sources

D1GP.co.jp / D1GP.com

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