When we talk about motorsport refering to Japan, we only think in JDM styled cars and drifting cars, but there are more things involved.

Japan have an extensive catalog of exclusive american/european and obviously japanese cars. An example, a MB E60 (W124), they are so unique, and the only ones i’ve seen are in Japan, surely there are some units around the world, but why so many in one place?

In the world of the drifting, the japanese cars we know the most are the Nissan Skyline (rwd version, GTS) Silvias, Fairladys… Toyota Supra, Chaser and its sedans… Mazda RX7 and Miatas and some more… Hondas… Well, they arent for drift because they are mostly FWD, but yeah, we also can see an S2000 or an NSX rolling on the track.

But, had these cars any function in the motorsport before the drifting was unveiled by Keichii Tsuchiya?

Yes, the answer is yes. These cars ran in official championships, like the Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC), Lemans, etc, also rallyes! Of course they joined trackdays and other motorsport events.
Im sure some of you remember these cars by playing Gran Turismo, but I preferred to make a compilation so we can revive the old era, the golden age of cars, and have a bit of japanese motorsport culture and its cars (a bit more heheh)

Okay, less words, more pictures.

NISSAN

TOYOTA