A dreary rain set in over the Fuji Speedway during the 1998 All-Japan Grand Touring Championship. A thick wall of fog and relentless, heavy rain blanketed the racetrack in almost unmanageable conditions. Then, an accident between a Porsche and Ferrari changed the course of Japanese racing forever. How did racing in Japan go from boring to world-wide phenomenon? How did punishing drivers that won lead to better racing? And, how did a 1997 Chevy Cavalier wind up in the middle of a Japanese race? Today on Past Gas, the history of racing in Japan and some of the stories behind the All-Japan Grand Touring Championship.

Photo credit: Morio
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tokyo_Auto_Salon_2012https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tokyo_Auto_Salon_2012

Photo credit: Mytho88
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1997_Castrol_Tom%27s_Supra_01.jpg

Thank you, Valvoline. Valvoline is the EXCLUSIVE motor oil of Donut! Get Valvoline for your car today!

Thanks to Turo for sponsoring Past Gas! Forget boring rental cars and find your drive at http://Turo.com. Every trip is backed by liability
insurance. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

Thank you to Indeed! Start hiring NOW with a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job post at http://Indeed.com /PASTGAS. Offer good for a limited time.
Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.

Finally, thanks to BetterHelp for sponsoring our show! Discover your potential with BetterHelp. Visit http://BetterHelp.com/PASTGAS today to get 10% off your first month!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE!
http://bit.ly/PastGas

Donut Media brings you some of the craziest stories from all of automotive history in their new podcast Past Gas!. Hosts James Pumphrey and Nolan Sykes walk you through incredible stories behind your favorite cars and manufacturers, like underground Japanese racing clubs, bitter racing rivalries and how some of your favorite classic cars came to be. Remember, its about cars, not about farts.

Check out more Donut Media Videos: https://youtu.be/Pz8IGLgFE2s?listPLF...

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1JQ3qvO

Want a Donut shirt or sticker? http://www.donut.media/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donutmedia/

Donut Media is at the center of digital media for the next generation of automotive and motorsports enthusiasts. We are drivers, drifters, and car enthusiasts who love to tell stories.