PRESS INFORMATION
February 12, 2016
Outline of M-TEC Motor Sports Activities in 2016
Today M-TEC Co., Ltd. (President: Tomoyuki HASHIMOTO, and hereinafter referred to as MUGEN) reveal an outline of motor sports activities to be engaged in 2016 by MUGEN.
MUGEN, under the 3 headings of “faster”, “stronger”, “smarter”, will actively engage in motorsports activities both in Japan and overseas, ranging from top category motorsports to beginners courses for the normal Honda user.
MUGEN's unique in-house project of taking on the challenge of participating in the Isle of Man TT races, with a bespoke electric, zero-emission motorcycle, which started for MUGEN in 2012, and resulted in one-two finishes in both 2014 and 2015, will continue this year with the newly developed Shinden Go, with the team seeking to add to their achievements by winning the TT Zero event, and once again posting new lap speed records.
MUGEN will also participate in the Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA series, the pinnacle of domestic formula racing, entering with a SF14, complete with new graphics and colour scheme, and the aim of winning the series championship.
In addition, under joint programmes with Honda, MUGEN will supply the engines, and provide engine maintenance and engine circuit support services to race teams in various Honda groups.
Mugen Original Project |
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[ The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race ] |
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TEAM MUGEN will participate in the TT Zero Challenge class for the 2016 Isle of Man TT races (from Saturday May 28th through to Friday June 10th) *1
For MUGEN the challenge of participating in the Isle of Man TT races started in 2012 using our original bespoke EV bike, SHINDEN, as a unique project to foster young engineers and conduct developments in a new area of motorsport and experimental powertrain design, and in 2014 and 2015 accomplished consecutive victories with 1-2 finishes in both years.
The 2016 machine, (SHINDEN GO), has been extensively developed using the knowledge and experience gained throughout the past 4 years, resulting in an all-new machine for this year's challenge.
With SHINDEN GO we will continue with our highly-successful rider line-up of John McGuinness and Bruce Anstey as we strive to win our third consecutive TT Zero title.
John McGuinness has won a total of 23 Isle of Man TT races, and took his second victory in the TT Zero Challenge class in 2015. He also updated the outright course record*2 for the mountain course during his victory in the Senior TT class, while Bruce Anstey, who has won at the TT 10 times in total, took victory in the opening Superbike race last year.
“SHINDEN GO” will be exhibited at the 2016 Tokyo Motorcycle Show, which will be held at Tokyo Big Sight in March, 2016.
■ Team structure
Team name | Number | Rider | Director |
TEAM MUGEN | 1 | John McGuinness | Akihiro Miyata |
5 | Bruce Anstey |
[The 2016 Tokyo Motorcycle Show, a Release Exhibition for TEAM MUGEN's Motorcycle for the Isle of Man TT Races]
Date and time: March 25, 2016 (Friday) 14:45 - 15:15
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Complex) West Exhibition Hall, Special stage in atrium
*1 For the TT Zero Challenge class, in which TEAM MUGEN will enter, the race event will be held on June, 8th (Wednesday).
*2 Course record: time 00:17:03.567 average speed132.701mph=213.516Km/H
The Isle of Man TT Official Website:
http://www.iomtt.com/
Joint project with Honda |
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[Domestic automobile motor sports activities] |
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● Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Series
Again this season, TEAM MUGEN will participate in the Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA Series.
With driver Naoki Yamamoto, who remains at TEAM MUGEN for his 6th season, both team and driver will be aiming to win the Series Championship in 2016.
For this year MUGEN will supply the 2.0L in-line four cylinder, direct injection, turbocharged engine “HR-414E” for SUPER FORMULA, to 5 teams for a total of 8 race cars, and will also provide engine maintenance and circuit service.
■ Team structure
Team name | Number | Rider | Director |
TEAM MUGEN | 16 | Naoki Yamamoto | Nagataka Tezuka |
■ Engine supply, engine maintenance, engine circuit service
Team name | Number |
REAL RACING | 10 |
11 | |
TEAM MUGEN | 16 |
DORAGO CORSE | 34 |
DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING | 40 |
41 | |
NAKAJIMA RACING | 64 |
65 |
SUPER FORMULA Official Website: http://www.superformula.net/
● SUPER GT
◇ GT500 class
MUGEN will supply the 2.0L in-line four cylinder, direct injection turbocharged engine “HR-414E” for “NSX CONCEPT-GT” to 5 cars in 5 teams. For each team, MUGEN will provide engine maintenance and engine circuit service. In addition, MUGEN will continue to provide the vehicle maintenance and team support for TEAM KUNIMITSU
Team name | Number |
AUTOBACS RACING TEAM AGURI | 8 |
Drago Modulo Honda Racing | 15 |
KEIHIN REAL RACING | 17 |
Epson Nakajima Racing | 64 |
TEAM KUNIMITSU | 100 |
■ Vehicle maintenance & team support
Team name | Number |
TEAM KUNIMITSU | 100 |
SUPER GT Official Website: http://supergt.net/jp/
● Japanese Formula 3 Championship Series
MUGEN will continue to supply the 2.0L in-line four cylinder, direct injection, normally-aspirated engine “Honda MF204D” to HFDP RACING, and will provide engine maintenance, engine circuit service.
■ Engine supply, maintenance, circuit service
Team name | Number |
HFDP RACING | 7 |
8 |
Japanese Formula 3 Official Website: http://www.j-formula3.com/
● Honda Sports & Eco Program
MUGEN will operate the “Honda Sports & Eco Program” jointly with Mobilityland Corporation. Starting in 2012 this will be the fifth year, taking the theme of “Doing sports ecologically”. This is a recreational program by which everyone can feel the ultimate pleasure of “driving, upskilling and competing”, exploiting the “Eco” performance offered by using Honda CR-Z aiming to achieve sports driving with minimal environmental impact. This year, corresponding with a good reputation, the participation fee which allows more people to take part has been set up.
A variety of experienced instructors including Honda's current active SUPER GT and Japanese Championship SUPER FORMULA drivers will provide direct instruction to participants, from the basics of sports driving, to the techniques required for competition.
Honda Sports & Eco Program Official Website: http://www.honda-crz-se.jp/
● N-ONE OWNER'S CUP
MUGEN will implement the planning, operation, customer support, and circuit service for the N-ONE OWNER'S CUP, and supply regulation parts. This is a one make specification race series that was introduced in 2014 with all participants using the lightweight 660cc N-ONE. Unlike other race cars, the N-One Cup cars are registered for use on the public highway to provide an easy passage for competitors with an A licence to participate in competitive motor sport.
N-ONE OWNER'S CUPOfficial Website: http://www.n-one-owners-cup.jp/
● FIT1.5 Challenge Cup
For the “FIT 1.5 Challenge Cup”, to be held at Suzuka and Twin Ring Motegi circuits, MUGEN will implement the development, supply and user's support for racing parts.
“FIT 1.5 Challenge Cup” is the one make race allowing participation with successive FITs*3 as the name of the series implies. This year, 6 rounds will be held at Suzuka Circuit, and 6*4 at Twin Ring Motegi · Sportsland SUGO, is to be given the new status of JAF Local championship race.
*3 Primary FIT (1500-cc model), second & third FITs (RS)
*4 4rounds at Twin Ring Motegi, 2rounds at Sportsland SUGO
[Overseas automobile motor sports activities] |
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● FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) series
MUGEN EURO*5 will supply the 1.6L in-line four cylinder, direct injection, turbocharged engine, designed exclusively for racing, to each team, and will provide the engine maintenance and engine circuit support service.
■ Engine supply, maintenance, circuit service
Team name | Number |
Castrol Honda World Touring car Team | 12 |
18 | |
TBD | 5 |
WTCCOfficial Website: http://www.fiawtcc.jp/
● China Touring Car Championship (CTCC) series
MUGEN EURO*5 will supply the 1.6L in-line four cylinder, direct injection, turbocharged engine, designed exclusively for racing, to the 3 cars of the Dongfeng Honda Racing Team, participating in the Super Production Class with “Honda Civic”, and will provide the engine maintenance, engine circuit service and team support.
■ Engine supply, maintenance, circuit service and team support
Team name | Number |
Dongfeng Honda Racing Team | TBD |
TBD | |
TBD |
*5 MUGEN EURO Co., Ltd is an English subsidiary wholly owned by M-TEC Co., Ltd.
CTCC Official Website: http://www.ctcc.com.cn/
In addition, for users who participate in championships with Honda car in countries all over the world, including Japan, MUGEN will continue to provide high-performance products including engine tuning for racing and technical services.
MUGEN will implement the feedback of technique and know-how obtained through these motor sports activities to all MUGEN products, and in turn offer them to customers.