M-TEC Co., Ltd. headed by Shin Nagaosa (hereafter called MUGEN) presents an overview of the company’s 2014 motor sports activities.
Motor sports is a major part of the MUGEN business and the company participates in a wide range of categories at the highest levels, both domestic and overseas, in the challenge to meet the expectations of our motor sports fans and business associates, to create a superior motor sports environment and reinforce the vitality of motorsport in conjunction with Honda.
In 2014 MUGEN will compete as “TEAM MUGEN” continuing on from last year to participate in “Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA”, “SUPER GT (GT 300 Class)” and “The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race (TT ZERO Challenge)” aiming to win in all 3 categories.
【Domestic Motor Sports Activities】
● SUPER GT
◇GT 500 Class
Under a joint project with Honda, MUGEN will supply and provide the engine maintenance and engine circuit service for the newly-developed Honda in-line 4 cylinder, 2.0L direct ignition turbo engine “HR-414E” for the GT 500 Class “NSX CONCEPT-GT” to 5 teams running 5 cars. MUGEN also provides service to the teams for the Honda and Zytec developed racing hybrid system.
With the experience earned from long term racing team management, MUGEN will be supplying machine maintenance and team support to TEAM KUNIMITSU.
■ Engine supply, engine maintenance, engine circuit service and hybrid system circuit service
Entrant |
No. |
AUTOBACS RACING TEAM AGURI |
8 |
KEIHIN REAL RACING |
17 |
Weider Modulo DOME Racing |
18 |
Epson Nakajima Racing |
32 |
TEAM KUNIMITSU |
100 |
■ Machine maintenance and team support
Entrant |
No. |
TEAM KUNIMITSU |
100 |
◇GT 300 Class
In their second year of competition “TEAM MUGEN” last year won the title establishing a precedent as the first hybrid machine to do so. Under the joint project with Honda, “TEAM MUGEN” will be aiming to secure consecutive series championship this year. Yuhki Nakayama and former F-3 driver Tomoki Nojiri are appointed as the team drivers and they will be joined at the team by Ryo Michigami as executive adviser in order to support the young drivers in developing their driving skill and their mental and physical endurance.
MUGEN also supplies the engine and provides engine maintenance, circuit engine service, racing hybrid system circuit service and machine parts to the CR-Z GT entrant, AUTOBACS RACING TEAM AGURI.
■ Entrant information
Entrant |
No. |
Driver |
Director |
TEAM MUGEN |
0 |
Yuhki Nakayama |
Junichi Kumakura |
Tomoki Nojiri |
■ Engine supply, engine maintenance, engine circuit service, hybrid system circuit service and machine parts supply
Entrant |
No. |
TEAM MUGEN |
0 |
AUTOBACS RACING TEAM AGURI |
55 |
SUPER GT official site: http://supergt.net/jp/
● Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Series
TEAM MUGEN has participated in the Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Series since 2010 culminating in Naoki Yamamoto taking the series championship last year. For 2014 Yamamoto will be challenging to defend his title and take back-to-back championships, and this year he will be joined by the current GT 300 champion, Yuhki Nakayama as his team mate. So for this year “TEAM MUGEN” with two champions in the team will be aiming to win both drivers and team championships.
MUGEN also supplies Honda’s newly developed inline 4 2.0L direct ignition turbo engine “HR-414E” to 4 teams, 8 machines, through Japan Race Promotion Inc. and will provide engine maintenance and engine circuit service.
■ Entrant Information
Entrant |
No. |
Driver |
Director |
TEAM MUGEN |
1 |
Naoki Yamamoto |
Nagataka Tezuka |
2 |
Yuhki Nakayama |
■ Engine supply, engine maintenance and engine circuit service
Entrant |
No. |
TEAM MUGEN |
1 |
2 |
|
HP REAL RACING |
10 |
11 |
|
NAKAJIMA RACING |
31 |
32 |
|
DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING |
40 |
41 |
SUPER FORMULA official site: http://superformula.net/
- JAPANESE FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
With Honda support continuing from last year, MUGEN will continue to develop the in-line 4 cylinder, 2.0L direct ignition engine “Honda MF204D”, and supply two engines to HFDP RACING, whilst providing engine maintenance and engine circuit service.
■ Engine supply, engine maintenance and engine circuit service
Entrant |
No. |
HFDP RACING |
7 |
8 |
● Honda Sports & Eco Program
A joint project with Mobilityland Corporation with Honda support to organize “Honda Sports & Eco Program”, the theme of the program is “Sports with Eco” since it was started in 2012. This motor recreational program is derived to consist of both environment and sports driving, and to offer joy of “handle, improve and compete” for everybody with ease, by extracting the maximum potential of the new generation hybrid sports Honda CR-Z.
Highly experienced drivers, including the Honda drivers competing in both SUPER GT and Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Series, will coach the basic skills of sports driving and practical technique for the attendees.
Honda Sports & Eco Program official site: http://www.honda-crz-se.jp
- N-ONE OWNER’S CUP
Starting from this year, with Honda support, MUGEN will organize the “N-ONE OWNER’S CUP”, a one-make race and will provide circuit service and regulation parts.
“N-ONE OWNER’S CUP” is based on the Japanese small car, N-ONE, and events will be held at 6 circuits in Japan, consisting of a total of 8 races aimed at providing easy access to motor sports for all.
N-ONE OWNER’S CUP official site: http://www.n-one-owners-cup.jp
● 1.5 Challenge Cup
An open motor sports activity “1.5 Challenge Cup” for vehicles with less than 1.5L, where MUGEN develops and supplies race parts and user support for models including the “FIT RS”.
The “1,5L Challenge Cup” was only held at Twin Ring Motegi last year, but this year Sports Land Sogo will be added to the schedule to give an expanded total of 6 events.
● FIT 1.5 Challenge Cup
MUGEN will develop and provide race parts and support for the users in the “FIT 1.5 Challenge Cup” held at Suzuka from this year. ”FIT 1.5 Challenge Cup” is a one-make race based on FIT and will feature 5 events this year.
【Overseas Motorsports Activities】
● FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC)
Under a joint project with Honda, MUGEN will supply the in-line 4 cylinder, 1.6L direct ignition turbo-charged racing engine for “Honda Civic WTCC” to 3 teams and 4 cars. Engine maintenance and circuit service will be provided through the UK-based subsidiary MUGEN EURO*.
■ Engine supply, engine maintenance and circuit service
Entrant |
No. |
Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team |
3 |
18 |
|
Zengő Motorsport |
5 |
Proteam Racing |
25 |
WTCC official site: http://www.fiawtcc.jp/
※MUGEN EURO Co., Ltd. is 100% subsidiary company of MUGEN Co., Ltd
● The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race
MUGEN will participate in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race, TT Zero, as “TEAM MUGEN”. For the past two years since the start of the team’s participation in 2012, MUGEN has taken consecutive 2nd positions, and in this third year of the project the declared aim is to claim the first win with one of two new machines, “SHINDEN 参 (SHINDEN SAN)”, which will feature improvements to both battery and motor power and control units, and improved aerodynamic efficiency.
Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness will return with the team in his efforts to secure the TT Zero title, and for the first time will be joined for 2014 by a teammate; Bruce Anstey. Anstey himself is a 9-time TT winner.
Full details of MUGEN “The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race project” will be announced at the 41st Tokyo Motor Cycle Show at the Tokyo International Exhibition Hall.
■ Entry information
Team |
No. |
Rider |
Director |
TEAM MUGEN |
Unfixed |
JOHN McGUINNESS |
Akihiro Miyata |
Unfixed |
BRUCE ANSTEY |
“41st Tokyo Motor Cycle Show, Team MUGEN Man TT race project announcement.”
Date: 30th March 2014 13:15 – 13:45
Place: Tokyo International Exhibition Hall (Tokyo Big Sight)
The Isle of Man TT official site: http://www.iomtt.com/
※TEAM MUGEN participate TT Zero Challenge class final will be held on 4th June
MUGEN provides high performance parts including racing tuned engines and technical service to Honda competition vehicle users participating in championship series in Japan and overseas.
Naturally the technical expertise and knowledge gained through such activities are all fed back into the design and development of MUGEN parts and accessories for the benefit of MUGEN customers around the world.